Osaka Gas and Kyocera Announce the Results of
 the First Domestic Trial Operations of Solid Oxide
Fuel Cell (SOFC) Cogeneration System for Household Use
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(This document was translated from the Japanese press release.)
May 16, 2006
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Kyocera Corporation
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (President: Hirofumi Shibano) and Kyocera Corporation (President: Makoto Kawamura) have conducted the first trial operations in Japan of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cogeneration system*1 in the 1-kW class for household use. The system was installed in a joint research home in the Next 21*2 experimental housing complex owned by Osaka Gas. The trial exceeded the originally targeted power generation efficiency rate of 49% (AC generator output efficiency*3, LHV*4), and the primary energy reduction and the CO2 emission reduction have been demonstrated as high.
Trial operations in a residential unit (one unit housing a family of four with a floor area of 108 m2) were conducted for approximately 90 days from late November last year to early March this year, with no operations conducted over the New Year holidays. There were approximately 2000 hours of power generation in all, and data from the operating status of the SOFC cogeneration systems in everyday life was collected and analyzed.
The main results of operation are as follows.*5
1. Power generation efficiency of 49% (compared to an original target of 45%), and 34% for the exhaust heat recovery (compared to an original target of 30%)
The power generation efficiency and the exhaust heat recovery at the rated output (1 kW) represent 49% (AC generator output efficiency, LHV) and 34% (LHV), which exceed the respective originally targets. Also, the daily average power generation efficiency is 44.1% (AC generator output efficiency, LHV) by improving the ability to respond to the demand for power in the household. It exceeds the average power generation efficiency at the customer's end for domestic thermal power plants (40%*6). The daily average exhaust heat recovery efficiency was 34% (LHV).
2. Primary energy reduction of 31% and CO2 emission reduction of 45%*7
Compared to conventional systems*8
, the trial systems prove themselves to be environmentally friendly. The primary energy reduction was 31%, and the CO2 emission reduction was 45% when electricity and heat are supplied to the SOFC cogeneration systems.
SOFC has been developed as distributed power generation technology to achieve the highest power generation efficiency in Japan and overseas. This is the first attempt where SOFC is operated in cogeneration systems to respond to the actual demand for power at home. The power generation efficiency, the primary energy reduction and the CO2 emission reduction were confirmed as high.
Both companies will work on the development of technologies to improve the reliability and reduce costs, and aim to launch products in the market in fiscal 2008.
*1:Cogeneration systems are systems that use the heat generated by power generation.
*LHV basis
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Rated Power Generation
(Power generation Efficiency*) |
Rated Heat Generation
(Exhaust heat recovery efficiency*) |
Ratio of Heat Generation to
Power Generation |
Engine-type cogenerationsystem:
ECOWILL |
1.0kW
(20%) |
3.25kW
(65%) |
3.25 |
Target specifications for
the PEFC cogeneration system |
0.7kW 1.0kW
(35%) |
0.90kW1.29kW
(45%) |
1.29 |
Target specifications for
the SOFC cogeneration system |
1.0kW
(45%) |
0.66kW
(30%) |
0.66 |
*2: An experimental housing complex built by Osaka Gas in October 1993 in Tennoji, Osaka, under the concept of "Combining Affluent Living Standards with Reduced Energy Consumption and Environmental Protection."
*3: Power generation efficiency at AC 100V available to customers. Power generation efficiency that subtracts the loss of the inverter to convert a direct current generated by fuel cells into an alternating current, and other supplementary mobile power.
*4: Abbreviation of Lower Heating Value. This is the quantity of heat generated after subtracting the condensation of latent heat of evaporation generated by the burning of fuel from the volume of fuel for heat generation.
*5: Data actually measured on a day of average power consumption for a family of four.
*6: Efficiency at the consumer end, which subtracts the power transmission loss caused by power transmission lines leading to households with low-voltage demand from the average power generation efficiency of the thermal power station. Calculated using the LHV/HHV conversion coefficient based on the value (HHV) of the Energy Saving Law, amended in fiscal 2002, according to the summary of power supply and demand for fiscal 2001.
*7: Estimated according to the method of calculation provided by the New Energy Foundation as an index for the assessments in the large experimental project for fixed fuel cells.
*8: The system where electricity is supplied from thermal power plants, and heat is supplied from hot water heaters using as heat sources gas supplied by companies that provide town gas.
Figure 1. Main Results of Operation
Note: The horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates output/consumption. It is clear that the systems respond to demand for electricity all day, including the hours when power consumption is low overnight and in the early morning.
Table 1: Operating Performance for One Day in Figure 1
Average power generation efficiency
(AC generator output efficiency, LHV) |
Average exhaust heat recovery efficiency
(LHV) |
44.1% |
34.0% |
System Outlines
| Unit tested |
1kw Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) |
| Dimensions of the power generator |
48 cm depth x 98 cm height x 70 cm width |
| Fuel |
Town gas |
| Cell structure |
Use of approx. 200 cells of the conductive porous supported flat tubes |
| Operation temperature |
Approx. 750 degrees Celsius |
| Unit tested |
Hot water storage unit |
| Storage volume |
100 liters |
| Dimensions |
40 cm depth x 145 cm height x 65 cm width |
| Temperature of stored water |
Approx. 70 degrees Celsius
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The systems installed in the housing complex
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| Inquiries |
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From the Press |
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KYOCERA Corporation
Corporate Communications
Head Office
Tel: +(81)-(0)75-604-3416 (Direct)
Tokyo
Tel: +(81)-(0)3-3274-1577(Direct) |
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