Hampshire-based fuel cell maker Voller Energy has signed a two-year deal with Calor Gas to develop a market for liquid petroleum gas (LPG) powered generators.
Voller already makes a 100W device powered by hydrogen, and has arranged hydrogen distribution.
“The benefit of working with Calor Gas is that they have 10,000 outlets in the UK,” company CEO Steve Voller told Electronics Weekly.
Last year Voller bought German company Kat-Chem which has ‘reformer’ technology to convert LPG (propane, butane or a mixture) to hydrogen and carbon dioxide, suitable for feeding Voller’s fuel cells.
“The system is working in the lab and we expect to have the first products on the market in mid-2007,” said Voller. “The production reformer should be about the size of two Coke cans.”
According to Voller, a 600W reformer-fuel cell combination should only emit as much carbon dioxide as one person - in keeping with one of the firm’s intended markets - charging power tool batteries for workers in confined spaces.
The firm’s reformer uses pyrolysis at 900°C to split out the hydrogen, and does not require a steam feed or an expensive platinum catalyst.
www.voller.com