Back-yard fuel cells are about to become a reality. That’s what K.R. Sridhar of Bloom Energy is claiming. Bloom Energy, a Silicon Valley startup, has revealed a small power plant designed to power your home from your back yard.

Each of these units will independently power 1 to 4 residences, allowing them to effectively leave the grid. Imagine the benefits of not having to install or maintain all of those power lines.

If this is too much of a leap for you, consider that we have already made the change from land lines to cell phones, and paper mail to electronic mail. It was never a question of if we would make these changes. The benefits could not be denied. When the technology was ready, we hurried onboard.

If Mr. Sridhar is correct, the technology for decentralizing our energy supply has now arrived. If so, I’m sure we will jump right in.

But what of the big boys like GE and Siemens? They have teams who have been working on this for years. They have multiple patents. They have vast experience in fuel cell operation in real life situations. Is it really possible that a small startup (although an undeniably well funded startup) can step in and take a large slice of the pie? I believe so. I believe there is a difference in focus. The big boys are looking at very large power units, leaving the backyard units for the startups.

Regardless of who develops and markets these units, it is going to happen. The need is simply too great. The benefits are too obvious. The technology is ready, and the price is coming down. It’s also obvious why this is of interest to refractory insulation manufacturers. The mass marketing of fuel cells may be one of the biggest economic opportunities ever for our industry. Fuel Cells require insulation – a lot of insulation.

Although there are several types of fuel cells, the majority of stationary units, including the new Bloom Box, are solid oxide fuel cells. For greatest efficiency, these units currently operate around 900ºC. In addition, the fuel cells that run on hydrogen may be supplied by a reformer (integral or separate) that operates around 800 ºC. The role of the refractory insulation is not only to keep the outside of the unit cool so we don’t burn the hand of a child playing in the back yard, but to keep the interior of the unit at operating temperature so it can maintain its efficiency.

For standard thermal insulation, these units use Ceramic Fiber Blanket, Organic Ceramic Fiber Board, Inorganic Ceramic Fiber Board, and high temperature adhesives. In addition to standard refractory insulation, solid oxide fuel cells require high purity non-silica insulation in key areas. Refractory Specialties’ high purity alumina insulation T-Cast®  was developed specifically for this application. The material was introduced to the market in 2004, and remains a key insulation choice for SOFC manufacturers.

You can read more details about the Bloom Box at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6221135.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Greg Gorby, Editor
RefractoryBlog.com
Refractory Specialties, Inc