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HotModule high-temperature fuel cell
to generate environmentally friendly onboard power
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High electrical efficiency and nearly
no damaging emissions
Friedrichshafen/Ottobrunn--The
Tognum company CFC Solutions based in Ottobrunn near Munich recently received
an order to supply a test version of the HotModule high-temperature fuel
cell for the “FellowSHIP” research project by the end of 2008. The HotModule
will be installed in the gas-powered supply ship “Viking Energy” in order
to test the suitability of fuel cells for the clean generation of onboard
power on ships. The HotModule fuel cell will be integrated into the existing
onboard supply of electricity and power and will cover 320 kilowatts of
total requirements.
A group of Scandinavian and German
companies are cooperating on this research project, with support from the
well-known ship-classification company Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Following
the successful conclusion of the concept phase, now for the first time
in the world a ship is being fitted with a high-temperature fuel cell for
operational trials. The fuel used will be liquid natural gas (LNG). The
HotModule fuel cell from CFC Solutions features an electrical efficiency
of 47 percent and is nearly free of damaging emissions.
The manager of the FellowSHIP project,
Tomas Tronstad, pointed out: “By using the fuel cell we will be able to
avoid an annual 4,755 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 33 tons of sulfur
dioxide (SO2) as well as 180 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) – equivalent
to the emissions of approximately 20,000 cars.”
Environmental protection is becoming
increasingly important in the shipping sector. Two thirds of worldwide
cargo transport goes by ship. Ships are responsible for two percent of
global CO2 emissions, up to 15 percent of NOx and about six percent of
SOx.
“Tognum aims to further enhance its
core competencies and market positions, and to utilize the growth potential
offered by the system business. The fuel cell is one of our products of
the future, and is an excellent supplement to our innovative portfolio,”
emphasized Christof von Branconi, member of Tognum’s Executive Board with
responsibility for the area of Onsite Energy Systems & Components.
Tognum is one of the world’s leading
suppliers of high speed diesel engines and complete propulsion systems
for ships, heavy land and rail vehicles and of industrial drive systems
as well as decentralized power plants, set-up in the two divisions mtu
Engines and Tognum Onsite Energy Systems and Components.
Its product portfolio includes diesel
engines in the power range from 20 to 9,100 kW, gas engine systems, gas
turbines and fuel cells and is one of the most modern and comprehensive
in its sector. In addition, the group develops and manufactures custom-made
electronic control and monitoring systems for its engines and propulsion
systems.
Sales of the Tognum Group amounted
to EUR 2.5 billion in 2006. Today, the Group employs more than 7,800 personnel
worldwide. It maintains a global sales and distribution network including
16 subsidiaries, more than 130 distribution partners and 1,100 authorized
dealers.
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