robmurray
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have any experience of fuel cells as an alternative to a diesel generator. It seems like early days for the technology but presumably its where we are all heading?
Fuel Cells
- Thread starter robmurray
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Evadne
Well-Known Member
Last time I looked there were commercial (methanol) units for sale in the caravan/RV world, but at eye-watering prices.
Georgio
Well-Known Member
They have been around for a few years but IMO the cost of the unit and availability of fuel is keeping them from widespread adoption.
Some info here.. http://www.marine-fuel-cell.com/
Some info here.. http://www.marine-fuel-cell.com/
jdc
Well-Known Member
I'm not absolutely sure it's where we're heading, at least not yet. With luck an elctro-chemist will be along shortly to enlighten us all, but the green credentials of fuel cells are still pretty dubious I think. The fuel still has to me made and transported, often by burning fossil fuels in the first place at only mid-30% ish efficiency.
The whole system efficiency of a direct methanol fuel cell is less than 20%, and is order 22% for diesel engines (and more if you use the waste heat). So it's not clear cut with Methanol cells at all. There's an aticle on Wiki of course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell
Fuel cells which use simple hydorcarbons such as propane as input, as was featured on an ARC boat last year, preceed the fuel cell with a reformer. This part-burns the propane to make Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide and lots os waste heat. Only the Hydrogen is used I believe, and the waste heat thrown away, thus the same amount of greenhouse gas is released for less electrical energy than an internal combustion engine would have made. Not green at all.
It seems to me that until and unless we both make electricity from nuclear or remewables and then make Hydrogen from it - with attendant storage and distribution challenges - fuel cells will not pay back in green terms. But good for quietness and nearly maintenance free I grant you.
bbg
Well-Known Member
They are widely used in small boat, shorthanded offshore racing. I believe the two most common brands are EFoy and MaxPower. Advantages include that they largely take care of themselves (switch on when battery voltage drops; switch off when batteries full) but they can be operated manually as well. Plus no noise. But they do generate heat and water.
If I had a larger boat with a diesel I would be inclined to fit a diesel generator. After all, you will already have the fuel on board. If you have the space to fit one permanently it seems like a much better option than a fuel cell, which would require carrying litres of methanol somewhere.
If I had a larger boat with a diesel I would be inclined to fit a diesel generator. After all, you will already have the fuel on board. If you have the space to fit one permanently it seems like a much better option than a fuel cell, which would require carrying litres of methanol somewhere.
EBunting
Group Editor
Fuel cells
Efoy fuel cells were used by the majority of boats taking part in the Mini Transat this year. They've proved very successful.
Two ARC yachts had Efoy fuel cells this year. I talked to one crew yesterday. They economised on use of the fridge and autopilot, but they never had to use their engine and didn't have solar or wind power sources.
One of several great things about fuel cells according to those who've used them is that the charging is completely automatic and silent and, apart from changing the methanol bottles every few days, there is no maintenance to do.
They are expensive, for sure, but as they gain popularity a secondhand market is growing. Because they're so becoming the norm in solo and short-handed small racing yachts in France a €3,500 fuel cell can fetch around €2,500 secondhand.
If you're interested in finding out more I'll be writing more about this in the March issue of Yachting World.
Efoy fuel cells were used by the majority of boats taking part in the Mini Transat this year. They've proved very successful.
Two ARC yachts had Efoy fuel cells this year. I talked to one crew yesterday. They economised on use of the fridge and autopilot, but they never had to use their engine and didn't have solar or wind power sources.
One of several great things about fuel cells according to those who've used them is that the charging is completely automatic and silent and, apart from changing the methanol bottles every few days, there is no maintenance to do.
They are expensive, for sure, but as they gain popularity a secondhand market is growing. Because they're so becoming the norm in solo and short-handed small racing yachts in France a €3,500 fuel cell can fetch around €2,500 secondhand.
If you're interested in finding out more I'll be writing more about this in the March issue of Yachting World.