Fuel cells

[Paul Chapman]

Does anybody have experiance of the use of fuel cells?

Either on or off a boat, as either main or auxilary power supply.

I believe there is or are boats on the cut with fuel cells and would be very interested to hear of peoples experiance with them.

[Gary Peacock]

I was asked this last month and did a bit of research into PEM fuel cells the idea seems feasible but when you try and get prices for this technology the info drys up very quickly. (One email did suggest a $200K)

 

It is most certainly not going to be a DIY job and the system is going to need continued support through out its life.

 

 

 

These are a few sites I looked at-

 

http://www.haveblue.com/

 

http://www.intelligent-energy.com

 

http://www.hydrogain.com

 

http://www.hydrogenics.com/

 

 

 

I just found another quoted price $300,000-$550,000 I think at about that time I moved onto more realistic things!

Edited December 22, 2005 by Gary Peacock

[dor]

I am sure there was a thread about this here a few months ago (where is the Thread-Finder general?).

 

There was an american one that came in a small box for a few thousand pounds, but the hydrogen refills were expensive and the output was very low.

 

I think they were targetting the yotties with more money than sense as a backup supply.

[Paul Chapman]

Interesting to know there are other people looking into this.

 

I have been researching it myself for some time and am waiting for a reply from a USA company that has its Europian HQ near to where I live in Germany.

 

http://www.idatech.com/

 

The hydrogen is not the problem as one can run them from LPG with a reformer but those prices you quote are pretty horrendous. From who were those prices and what sort of power output?

 

I think I might just go for something a little cheaper.

 

If and when I get a reply from IdaTech I shall post the result.

[DHutch]

...where is the Thread-Finder general?

Here i am!!

 

And here they are.

Fuel Cells - Anybody ever try one of these? (Jun 17 2005)

Fuel Cells - (Apr 2 2005)

 

The basic idea is quite good, a methanol fuelcell, thats the same size as a battery, and can be wired up in parrallel with your batterys, and just sits there producing power for you, quietly and cleanly.

- The problems are, they dont produce very much (100Ah/day @ 12v) they only run for 1500odd hours before needing servicing, they cost a bomb, and not may places stock the methanol cartons it runs on.

 

As dor said, im sure its a god-sent on a yacht, where you dont want to have to have a gennertor (space/weight etc), and you power consumption is very low, so 100ah is more than enough. (and your loaded?)

 

 

Dainel