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FUJI ELECTRIC JOURNAL 2002 Vol.75-No.5
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Solar Cells / Fuel Cells |
Present Status and Prospects for New Energy
Norio Kanie, Noriyuki Nakajima
As the problem of the global environment comes in the spotlight, the introduction of new energy is much expected to reduce the warming gas, especially carbon dioxide. This paper describes the present status and introduction target of new energy, and also refers to the present problems and prospects for Fuji Electric's development of new energy, including solar cells and fuel cells.
Trends and Prospects of Solar Cell Development
Takashi Yoshida, Shinji Fujikake
This paper describes the history and recent market trends of solar cell development. The output in the world increased to 100 MW/y in 1997 and rapidly to 300 MW/y in 2000. This was mostly due to the fact that more countries in the world have started providing incentives to accelerate introduction. To diffuse solar cells on a full scale, we consider the cost has to be reduced to a half of the present. Fuji Electric, therefore, has tackled the development of film substrate solar cells superior in mass productivity. The deposition rate has increased to ten times these five years. The outdoor generation test period exceeding three years together with the result of acceleration tests has proved the outdoor durability of film substrate solar cells.
Outdoor Performance Studies of Amorphous-Silicon Solar Cells
Takuro Ihara, Hironori Nishihara
The generation characteristics of an amorphous-silicon solar cell of SCAF (series-connection through apertures formed on film) construction on a plastic film substrate and a crystal-silicon solar cell were compared. The comparison proved that the output energy per capacity a year of the former is higher than that of the latter by more than 10%. Also, the effects of the azimuth angle and the tilt angle on output energy were evaluated. Further, field tests were applied to a conventional- type module having the surface covered with glass and a module integrated with the tile by omitting the surface glass. They proved that change in the sealing construction of modules made no difference in output efficiency.
Application of Solar Cells Combined with Roof Material to Railway Stations
Kaname Senda, Yoshirou Makino
The effective use of the roof surface of platforms is very advantageous to railways. This paper describes the features of the solar cells combined with roof material, which were applied to Meidaimae and Wakabadai Stations, Keio Electric Railway, in replacing the roof material. The solar cells, amorphous silicon cells stuck on steel plates, are comparatively light in weight and do not require reinforcing the existing roof-supporting structures. The measurement of train electromagnetic noise proved no influence on the solar cells. Their operation can be judged to be satisfactory from the capacity factor calculated using output energy data.
New-Energy Generation System for Fuji Electric Human Resources Development Center
Yo shimi Horiuchi, Hironori Nishihara, Takashi Ujiie
Fuji Electric has introduced new-energy cogeneration equipment, including an amorphous solar system, a phosphoric acid fuel-cell power system, and a micro gas turbine, and in addition, an energy managing system for integrated management of these systems. These systems are operated aiming at reduction in environmental load and improvement in energy utilization efficiency. From now on, demonstrative operation will be carried out to accumulate various data and improve energy utilization efficiency.
Trends and Prospects of Fuel Cell Development
Noboru Furushou, Hirao Kudo, Hiroshi Yoshioka
This paper describes the development trends and future prospects of the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that Fuji Electric has been developing. Regarding the PAFC, the first commercial type of 100 kW (FP-100E) supplied from 1998 has been in operation with high reliability and the high rate of operation, and the marketing of the second commercial type (FP-100F) was started in 2001. The PEFC is under accelerated development for putting to practical use; for example, a single stack underwent operational evaluation exceeding 10,000 hours, and a power unit of the 1kW class using city gas for fuel was made on an experimental basis and continuously operated about 1,000 hours.
Development and Installation Achievements of Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells
Masakazu Hasegawa, Takashi Ujiie
Fuji Electric is now promoting marketing and development for the second commercial type of phosphoric acid fuel cells which aims at lower cost, higher durability, and advanced functions. The first unit was delivered to Fuji Electric Human Resources Development Center. The specifications applied are described in the paper. With regard to the first commercial type supplied from 1998, nine units have so far been shipped. They show the working ratio exceeding 98% and continue satisfactory operation. The paper describes the case of application to an office building as an installation example.
Development of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Akitoshi Seya, Shunsuke Ohga
Aiming at demonstrating a stationary fuel-cell system and posing problems thereof toward the practical use of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) power systems, Fuji Electric made a PEFC system of the 1-kW class using town gas as raw fuel on an experimental basis and evaluated it. This paper describes this system and the reformed gas type cell stack configuration. The evaluation of the system performance, the evaluation of the continuous operation test result and the single-cell durability of the cell stack for reformed gas, and the performance of the cell stack of the 1-kW class for this system are also outlined.
Present Status and Trends of Fuel Cell Power Units Using Biogas
Kokan Kubota, Kenichi Kuroda, Koji Akiyama
In the movements of legislation, technical development, and business toward a recycling society, it is said biomass energy will be main natural energy among environment-friendly energy resources replacing petroleum. Fuji Electric started developing the application of a phosphoric acid fuel cell to biogas from anaerobic digestion of garbage in 1999 and supplied 100-kW phosphoric acid fuel cells applied to garbage biogas and sludge digestion gas in 2001 and 2002. This paper outlines the systems of power units introduced into the garbage anaerobic digestion facility and the sludge treatment center.
Miniature Pulse Tube Cryocooler
Tomoyoshi Kamoshita, Yukio Yasukawa, Keishi Ohshima
A pulse tube cryocooler of simple structure without moving part in the expander has the advantage over a stirling cryocooler of low vibration and long life. So its wide uses for space crafts and high-temperature superconductor devices are expected. Recently Fuji Electric has developed a pulse tube cryocooler with cooling capacity of 2.5 W at 70 K, based on the technology of the stirling cryocooler for the space craft. The cryocooler consists of a compressor with two opposite pistons supported by flexure bearings and an in-line type pulse tube expander. This paper describes the structural features and typical performances of the new cryocooler.
Water Pollutant Decomposition Apparatus Using Ultrasonic and Ultraviolet Irradiation
Kouji Kawakami, Yoshio Tanaka, Yujiro Kitaide
Recently, environmental pollution caused by harmful substances, such as chlorinated organic compounds, has become a problem. Fuji Electric has developed an apparatus to effectively decompose pollutant in water to a low-concentration, non-toxic level using the interactive effect of ultrasonic and ultraviolet irradiation. This paper describes the components and merits of the apparatus, the mechanism of decomposition, and an application to wastewater treatment equipment for dry cleaning. This apparatus is small in size, and can effectively decompose pollutant in wastewater at low cost and with no reagent. It is suitable for on-site equipment in a small- or medium-scale treatment facility.
Standardization of Engineering Information on Construction and Implementation with XML Schema
Kenichi Hagiwara, Hitomi Kawakami, Takahiko Yamamoto
The local promotion action program for CALS/EC (commerce at light speed/electronic commerce) which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is promoting has been established. Following that, orderers and acceptors have started preparing systems to meet the program. CALS/EC requires the standardization of engineering information and a drastic structural reform. Fuji Electric has acquired considerable knowledge through the system development to meet the CALS/EC of electronic municipalities and road construction works and the system preparation to meet the company's own CALS/EC. In this paper, the standardization of engineering information on construction and implementation with XML (extensible markup language) schema are examined on the basis of the knowledge.
