Cummins Power Generation Research Articles

Stack Testing Summary - Versa Power Systems

Versa Power Systems' stack development is based on a consistent, repeatable testing methodology focused on increasing the durability and endurance of the stack while simultaneously decreasing the stack manufacturing cost. Standard tests are repeated on every stack to allow for comparison of various stack configurations and material systems. These standard tests are also used as a qualification step to maximize the usefulness of long-term stack in-test stand and stack in system testing. Statistical analysis of the test results provides an opportunity for process improvement and optimization. Testing has been performed at Versa Power Systems (Calgary, Canada), Cummins Power Generation (Minneapolis, MN), Gas Technology Institute (Chicago, IL), U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory (Morgantown, WV), U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Newport, RI), the U.S. Air Force Lab (Panama City, FL) and Imperial College (London, England) with a minimum variation in results. These results are presented and discussed.

MORE DOE FUNDS FOR FUEL CELLS

FOUR INDUSTRIAL TEAMS WERE selected last week by the Department of Energy to take part in a 10-year, $500 million program to develop better ways to manufacture cheaper and commercially acceptable solid oxide fuel cells. They are Honeywell, Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., Delphi Automotive Systems and Battelle, and Cummins Power Generation and McDermott Technology Inc. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are just one of several fuel-cell technologies that enjoy DOE support because of their commercial potential, department officials say. SOFC's particular application has been to higher power operations, such as industrial or largescale central electricity generating stations. According to DOE officials, SOFCs have the advantage of being able to readily use fossil fuels as a source of hydrogen, and of running at high temperatures (1,500 °F), which could be used to provide heat for industrial applications. The 10-year goal of the new DOE programs is to cut capital costs to ...

Rolling thunder - integration of the SOLO 161 Stirling engine with the CPG-460 solar concentrator at Ft. Huachuca

Project Rolling Thunder is a dish/Stirling demonstration project at Ft. Huachuca, an U.S. Army fort in southeastern Arizona. (Huachuca means rolling thunder in Apache.) It has been supported by the Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). As part of a 1992 SERDP project, Cummins Power Generation, Inc. (CPG) installed a CPG 7-kW e dish/Stirling system at the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. The primary objective of the SERDP Dish/Stirling for DoD Applications project was to demonstrate a CPG 7-kW e dish/Stirling system at a military facility. Unfortunately, Cummins Engine Company decided to divest its solar operations. However, as a direct result of Ft. Huachuca's interest in the Cummins dish/Stirling technology, Sandia retrofit a SOLO 161 Stirling engine on the CPG-460 at Ft. Huachuca. Project Rolling Thunder - The SOLO 161 Demonstration at Ft. Huachuca has been a challenge. Although, the SOLO 161 PCU has operated nearly flawlessly and the CPG-460 has been, for the most part, a solid and reliable component, integration of the SOLO PCU with the CPG-460 into a functional system has required significant attention. In this paper, the integration issues and technical approaches of project Rolling Thunder are presented. Lessons ofthe project are also discussed.