Link to document:
Status
Electronic Resource
Call number
Publication
EPRI EM 1936; Report; July 1981.
Language
Library's review
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of alternative fuels on the performance and economics of conceptual Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) power plants. The alternative fuels included natural gas, coal-derived medium Btu gas, methanol, ethanol, and naphtha. Properties of
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of alternative fuels on the performance and economics of conceptual Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) power plants. The alternative fuels included natural gas, coal-derived medium Btu gas, methanol, ethanol, and naphtha. Properties of
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typical examples of these fuels were compiled along with the PAFC requirements to prepare preliminary specifications for fuel processing systems. Vendors were solicited to provide cost, performance, and operational data on fuel processing systems. These data were used to define ten different PAFC power plant configurations of nominally 7.5 MWe utilizing the five alternative fuels. Heat rates for the power plant configurations ranged from 7400 to 10,750 Btu/kWh. Direct capital costs were estimated in terms of prototype unit, 50th unit, and projected fully commercial units (which ranged from $420 to $593/kWe in 1980$) available in the 1990's. Parametric studies were conducted to determine the busbar cost of electricity as functions of: fuel costs, capacity factor, stage of commercial development, and production experience. Based on these studies, recommendations for primary and alternative fuel were developed: in the near term natural gas and methanol respectively were selected; in the longer term, the respective selections were methanol and coal gas. Show Less