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Summary
Logan Energy Ltd have completed the installation and integration of a 200kWe PAFC power module and associated cooling module at the TfL Palestra Building in Southwark, London.
The fuel cell forms part of an integrated tri-generation system providing electrical energy, heat and cooling to the Palestra building. It is the largest capacity fuel cell operating in London.
“One key reason that Logan Energy won the contract was the level of professionalism they showed in the obtaining of the CE certification and their insistence that it should be independently scrutinised by a third party” explained John Lidderdale, Logan’s Managing Director.
Project Background
As part of their commitment to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions TfL (Transport for London) commissioned the project in 2008; at that time they estimated a reduction in carbon emissions of 40% and a cost saving of £ 90,000 per annum as a result of the CCHP installations. Once optimisation of all the systems have been completed full and complete data will be available to monitor the system performance.
At the official opening of the fuel cell and the public exhibition last month, Kit Malthouse, Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership and Deputy Mayor of London for policing said “'Zero polluting hydrogen fuel has the potential to radically transform the way we power our city to create a more pleasant environment. This isn't a fuel of the future, but available right now. ‘
The Project
This commercial fuel cell system has been installed into the POD area at ground floor level to the Blackfriars Road elevation of the building; offloading and positioning of the unit was undertaken at the weekend to avoid unnecessary disruption to traffic in the area.
The system is configured to operate in three modes:
- Grid Connect – system is connected to the main building electrical distribution system
- Idle – the system is disconnected from all systems
- Grid Independent (island) – system is connected to one of the three UPS system providing back up power to critical IT equipment.
As part of the integration the system has been fitted with independent metering to monitor not only electrical energy delivered to the building and gas consumption but also any heat rejected by the system, providing a complete “picture” of the system performance.
A system of interconnecting insulated pipe work and electrical cabling connects the fuel cell power module to existing systems to distribute heat and electricity to associated plant and equipment including an absorption chiller, hot water storage system and the main electrical building distribution system.
The system is monitored by building maintenance staff using a remote serial communications link to a dedicated desk top computer running the user interface software. All operating parameters are available to view, but alteration is restricted to authorised staff and engineers.
Co-ordination of the services installations required a multi-disciplined team of designers and installation engineers to ensure all the system interfaces were appropriate and fitted together seamlessly to create an optimised environmental low carbon generation system.
Performance
The system is capable of providing 200kWe and approximately 263kWth energy to the building services installations, operating at a system efficiency of 36%. It is anticipated the figure will reduce over the life of the equipment.
On completion of the installations the integrated systems were subjected to over 40 individual witnessed and monitored tests to ensure correct performance and operation.
To date, mid March 2010, the system has been operational for 5860 hours and delivered 969MWhrs of electrical energy.
When compared to grid produced coal fired electrical energy an overall reduction of approximately 40% is anticipated this will only be confirmed when all systems are being monitored, including all the heat generating circuits.
On completion of the optimisation phase complete system monitoring will begin and all results will be published in future DEC’s to be issued by TfL.
The fuel cell has been integrated into the buildings fire detection system and is configured to disconnect from the building network in the event of a fire on all floors except the ground and basement levels. In the event of a detection of fire at these two levels the system will shut down completely.
Emissions from the fuel cell system are significantly less than traditional generation processes and NOx levels <1 ppmV and CO < 2 ppmV are expected all others emissions SOx, particulates and non methane hydrocarbons are negligible. Ongoing optimisation of the systems will continue and system monitoring and performance will undertaken through the coming year to ensure complete annual operating and seasonal cycles are included with in the recorded data.
The Complete System
Logan Energy Limited Corporate Background
Logan Energy Ltd is the established expert on energy solutions harnessing the power of Hydrogen. Being independent of both manufacturer and technology enables Logan Energy to provide the UK public and organisations with impartial advice on today’s hydrogen technology that offers an alternative energy option.
Passionate about hydrogen and with an unparalleled history in fuel cells, Logan Energy in Europe does not limit itself to the application of fuel cells but all technologies that either generate or utilise Hydrogen. Their expertise in the application of fuels cells in applications where electrical production, combined heat and power, tri-generation (heat, cooling and electricity). Logan can provide these systems on a turn-key basis or as power supply contracts, energy supply contracts or as ESCOs. A number of base fuels can be utilised ranging from natural gas and LPG through various bio-fuels to anaerobic digester gases.
A major player in the hydrogen market, Logan Energy, has been, is and will continue to be totally dedicated to the creation of elegant solutions to their customers problems.
Logan Energy Worldwide
Logan Energy Corporation is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and has been providing clean, quiet and reliable fuel cell solutions to commerce and industry since 1994. Logan has been responsible for the installation of over 130 fuel cell solutions and presently operates 25% of the global installations equating to about 18% of the global capacity.
Logan Energy exists to provide fuel cell solutions against a growing demand in the UK and throughout Europe for clean, quiet, efficient and reliable energy schemes which can run on carbon free fuels or use hydrocarbon based fuels more efficiently than any other technology and thus significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Logan Energy pledge and predictions
The European commission and most of the governments of the EU including that of the UK are committed to an eventual hydrogen economy, Logan Energy is better placed than anyone to assist companies in Europe towards that goal, by harnessing the technology in its present state of development and marry the solutions to available funding opportunities.
Established since 1994 no other organisation has the depth or range of experience of different applications in house, totalling just short of 100 man years, of hands-on practical experience from feasibility studies through design for planning, detail engineering, installation, hook-up, commissioning, operations and maintenance.
Logan Energy focuses only on the provision of the right solution to each individual application.
Logan has a comprehensive knowledge of the market place and the products available and under development.
Logan Energy provides solutions tailor made to respond to the customer’s individual needs.
Logan Energy can provide solutions that:
- Help reduce CO2
- Eliminate products of combustion
- Provide the highest efficiencies available
- Are virtually silent in operation
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