An overview of the Westinghouse air-cooled phosphoric acid fuel cell program

Abstract

One key alternate energy area under development within the Westinghouse Electric Corporation is the air-cooled phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC). Air-cooling was selected because of its inherent reliability and maintainability features. These features, along with the modular power plant approach, are expected to make this technology attractive to both commercial and utility customers. After over a decade of development, Westinghouse is nearing completion of its PAFC technology development program, with up to 3 MW on-site demonstrations. Operational principles of fuel cells, overview of the PAFC program, Westinghouse prototype plant design, cell technology, small and large stack test results, and the commercialization program are outlined.<>