Knowledge Library

General UTC Power

Who is UTC Power?

UTC Power is a fuel cell company based in South Windsor, Connecticut. It is part of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX). The company specializes in fuel cells for buildings, buses and automobiles. It has also developed fuel cells for space and marine applications.

How long has UTC Power been in business?

UTC Power has been in business for over 50 years. The company has led the evolution of fuel cell technology since its founding in the 1950s, when it first launched fuel cells to provide electric power, heat and drinking water on U.S. manned space flights. UTC Power manufactured the first commercially available stationary fuel cell to provide on-site building power in 1991.

What is a fuel cell?

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat and water. The fuel cell is composed of an anode (a negative electrode that provides electrons), an electrolyte in the center, and a cathode (a positive electrode that accepts electrons). Fuel cells produce direct current, or D/C, electricity. Because alternating current, or A/C, is the electrical standard for most uses, such as home or building power, fuel cells use a power inverter to change the electricity from D/C to A/C.

Stationary Fuel Cells

What are the benefits of a fuel cell?

Fuel cells fit a broad range of applications and provide customers with improved energy security, greater energy efficiency and more environmentally responsible/sustainable operations. Fuel cells operate without combustion, so they are virtually pollution free. Since the fuel is converted directly to electricity, a fuel cell can operate at much higher efficiencies than internal combustion engines, extracting more electricity from the same amount of fuel. The fuel cell itself has no moving parts - making it a quiet and reliable source of power.

What is UTC Power's stationary fuel cell product?

The PureCell® fuel cell system is a combined cooling, heating and power system that reduces energy costs, increases operational reliability and contributes to a cleaner environment. The PureCell® fuel cell system can yield efficiencies as high as 90 percent when both power and byproduct heat are used to meet the electric power and thermal energy needs of a building.

Who is using UTC Power's stationary fuel cells?

UTC Power's fleet of PureCell Systems is providing clean and efficient energy to some of the world's most progressive and recognizable companies. Many are repeat customers who have been delighted by the performance and benefits of the PureCell system. Customers include: Coca-Cola Refreshments, Cox Communications, Whole Foods Market, Samsung, New York Port Authority (World Trade Center in New York City), SUPERVALU, Becker+Becker, Price Chopper and many more.

What are the operational benefits of the PureCell® System?

UTC Power's PureCell® System provides clean, efficient, and secure on-site power. The PureCell® Model 400 System, our latest-generation stationary fuel cell provides up to 400 kW of assured electrical power plus up to 1.5 million Btu/hour of heat for combined heat and power applications.

More than half of the energy potential in traditional power generation goes up the stack as exhaust heat. UTC Power fuel cell systems convert heat exhaust into cooling and heating, turning potential waste into useable energy. While central powerplants achieve percentages in the mid-30s, UTC Power's fuel cell systems can attain energy conversion efficiencies as high as 90 percent.

The Model 400 has the ability to operate either in conjunction with the utility grid or without it, a critical feature that enables a facility to stay powered up if the grid fails. This feature is called "dual-mode" capability.

What are the environmental benefits of the PureCell® System?

The PureCell® Model 400 system is one of the cleanest and quietest on-site power generating technologies available. Highly energy efficient and virtually pollution-free. No fossil fuel is combusted in the production of power. Ultra-low emissions meet the strictest air emissions requirements in the United States. Low noise and ultra-low emissions make it a perfect fit for urban environments.

The PureCell® Model 400 System is designed to operate in water-balance - no consumption or discharge of water in normal operations - saving millions of gallons of water when compared to central generation and other fuel cell technologies. Each PureCell® Model 400 saves about 1.6 million gallons of water per year compared to the U.S, electric grid.

UTC Power fuel cells also qualify for LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points.

What are the energy security benefits of the PureCell system?

The PureCell Model 400 System can operate independent of or in parallel to the electric grid. This feature is called "dual-mode" capability. This ensures continuous operation during natural and man-made emergencies and grid fluctuations, thereby protecting public health and safety, saving perishable goods and preventing production and economic losses for commercial/industrial users.

What are the target market sectors for UTC Power's commercial stationary fuel cell?

Typical market sectors include bottling, data centers, supermarkets/retail, hospitality, healthcare, mixed-use residential, prisons, gaming and educational institutions. The buildings in these sectors are generally energy-intensive, have power, heating and cooling needs and/or value the clean energy and reliable power attributes of these solutions.

UTC Power helps individual customers achieve secure power through onsite power solutions that operate independent of or in parallel to the electric grid. This ensures continuous operation during natural and man-made emergencies and grid fluctuations, thereby protecting public health and safety, saving perishable goods and preventing production and economic losses for commercial/industrial users.

Why did UTC Power choose phosphoric acid technology for its stationary product?

UTC Power has experience in all five major fuel cell technologies (Phosphoric Acid, Proton Exchange Membrane, Alkaline Solid Oxide and Molten carbonate). Through our extensive experience with each of these technologies we have determined that phosphoric acid fuel cells offer the optimum blend of system performance, durability and value for stationary power applications and our customers.

What improvements have been made to the next-generation stationary fuel cell product, the PureCell® Model 400?

UTC Power's PureCell® Model 400 System incorporates new technology and design innovations and builds on UTC Power's unmatched fuel cell fleet durability and operating experience. With its proven phosphoric acid-based fuel cell technology, the Model 400 boasts an industry best 10-year stack life, 20-year product life with overall system efficiency of up to 90 percent and is designed to operate in water balance.

Is incentive funding available for UTC Power fuel cells?

Generous incentives are available for clean and highly-efficient fuel cell systems such as the PureCell Model 400 system:

• US installations can benefit from the Federal Incentive Tax Credit (FITC) from the Federal Government which can provide a savings of up to 30%.
• Also, several US States, particularly California, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey offer funding that can provide additional significant savings.

Does UTC Power offer financing for the PureCell system?

UTC Power offers our PureCell systems through both a purchase (with payback that can be as low as 3-5 years depending on building location and energy demand) and an Energy Service Agreement (ESA) which can mean zero up-front capital costs. The ESA is backed by United Technologies (a global Fortune 50 company).

How do fuel cells compare to solar/wind?

Stationary fuel cells, like solar and wind, are critical components of our world's roadmap to energy independence. Fuel Cells are particularly beneficial for several reasons. Stationary fuel cell powerplants can provide electricity and heat at rated output around the clock. Because they can run continuously they are well suited for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings and facilities with 24/7 electrical and thermal requirements. By comparison, solar panels and wind turbines operate intermittently, subject to the availability of sunlight and sufficiently strong breezes. Consequently, these resources are better suited to applications where the utility grid can make up any shortfalls to fulfill power requirements. The ability to supply process heat to satisfy a facility's thermal load is an additional benefit of certain types of fuel cells (such as UTC Power's PureCell system). Fuel cells also differ significantly from solar and wind by offering power densities that can be hundreds of times greater than solar/wind and also providing siting flexibility - from outdoor to indoor to basement to rooftop installations.

What is net-metering and is the PureCell net-metering capable?

Net-metering is an arrangement between the utility and the customers who generate their own electricity with qualifying systems such as the PureCell system. Net-metering measures the difference between the electricity delivered by the utility and the excess electricity produced by the customer using their own generation equipment. Any energy produced that is not used is fed back onto the utility grid and is deducted from the customer's utility bill. Details vary by state and utility. The PureCell is capable of net-metering.

What does CCHP stand for?

CCHP is Combined Cooling, Heating and Power. CHHP are integrated high-efficiency, assured power solutions comprising various combinations of fuel cells, chillers and heat exchangers powered by natural gas and exhaust energy.

Automotive

Does UTC Power develop fuel cells for cars?

Yes. UTC Power develops Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology for some of the world’s leading auto manufactures. UTC Power manufactures fuel cells for next-generation automobiles. UTC Power has worked with BMW, Hyundai and Nissan, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy on technology development and demonstration programs.

Are fuel cell cars available today?

Automakers have started placing fuel cell vehicles with customers – there are about 300 fuel cell vehicles from different makers in the hands of US drivers. UTC Power works closely with many leading auto manufactures to provide technologies and ideas that will enable them to transition their products from internal combustion engines toward fuel cells.

 

When will fuel cell cars enter the mainstream?

Major automakers have settled on 2015 as a target date to get mass-produced fuel cell cars into dealer showrooms.

What are the environmental benefits of fuel cell vehicles?

Fuel cell hybrid vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent or more compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. They emit nothing but water from the tailpipe.

Fleet Vehicles: Buses

What is UTC Power’s fuel cell powerplant product for transit buses?

The PureMotion Model 120® is the company’s latest-generation zero-emission proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. It is now operating in fleets in California, and Connecticut and has traveled more than 600,000 miles. The system’s modular design maximizes uptime, simplifies maintenance and is well-suited for integration into hybrid vehicle applications.

What are the benefits of fuel cell buses?

Fuel cell buses are extremely quiet, offer a smooth and almost vibration-free ride, are nearly two times more fuel efficient than a diesel-powered bus and are emission-free, generating no soot or smog-forming pollutants. Compared to a diesel version, every bus equipped with a UTC Power PureMotion system reduces nitrogen oxide emissions equivalent to removing 77 cars from the road per year and creates the same carbon dioxide benefits as planting 31 acres of forest.

Where are buses powered by UTC Power fuel cells operating?

UTC Power is playing a significant role in the U.S. Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program and was the chosen supplier for the largest fuel cell bus order in the United States. From late 2009 through early 2011, 16 additional buses powered by UTC Power fuel cell systems were delivered to fleet operators in Connecticut and California.

What is the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program?

The National Fuel Cell Bus Program is a $49 million program established by the Federal Transit Administration in 2006 to facilitate the development of commercially viable fuel cell bus technology and related infrastructure. UTC Power is a sub-contractor for this program through Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium, and owns and operates four fuel cell buses with transit agencies. All buses are powered by UTC Power’s PureMotion ® Model 120 Fuel Cell power plant. In 2010 the FTA issued a $16.9M extension of this program and UTC Power was awarded a contract through CalStart to develop the next generation powerplant with the goal of moving to commercialization.

Since fuel cell buses are fueled by hydrogen, are they safe?

Yes. Hydrogen can be used as safely as other common fuels we use today when guidelines are observed. Hydrogen is non-toxic and non-poisonous; it won’t contaminate groundwater and is not known to contribute to atmospheric pollution. Since hydrogen is much lighter than air, when it is released, it rises and dilutes quickly. Hydrogen sensors are present to detect any leaks. Also, first responders and others have been trained to ensure public safety.

How far can a fuel cell bus go before it needs to be refueled?

The range of this new-generation bus is 250 miles which is comparable to a standard diesel bus.

Do drivers like operating fuel cell buses?

Yes. The drivers like that the buses are smooth, quiet, have great acceleration and are good for the environment.

Do passengers like riding fuel cell buses?

Yes. Feedback from passenger surveys conducted at AC Transit indicates that passengers prefer the smooth, quiet ride of the fuel cell bus and like the fact that fuel cell buses are good for the environment.

Aerospace and Defense

How long have UTC Power fuel cells been used for US space flight?

Since 1966, UTC fuel cells have provided electric power and drinking water on all U.S. manned space flights.

When was the first flight of the Apollo fuel cell powerplant?

The first flight of the Apollo fuel cell powerplant occurred in 1966 and there were 17 other missions, including the first lunar landing in July 1969.

When did UTC Power win the Space Shuttle Orbiter program?

In 1973, UTC Power was declared the winner of the competition for the Space Shuttle Orbiter fuel cell powerplant and began developing a new fuel cell system. The first flight of the Space Shuttle was in April of 1981 and UTC Power fuel cells spent more than 110,000 hours aboard Shuttle Orbiters in space.

How did UTC Power fuel cells power the space shuttles?

Each Space Shuttle Orbiter has three fuel cells onboard that provide all of the shuttleÕs electric power and drinking water for the astronauts. The fuel cells fly an average of five missions before being returned to UTC Power for maintenance and overhaul. Each fuel cell is capable of producing up to 12 kilowatts of continuous power and is more than 70 percent efficient, which is two to three times better than a typical combustion engine. Cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen feed each of the self-contained units, which are installed under the payload bay, just behind the crew compartment.

Is UTC Power still developing fuel cells for space?

No. UTC Power shipped its last Space Shuttle Orbiter fuel cell powerplant to United Space Alliance, NASAÕs prime shuttle contractor in April of 2010.

Does UTC Power develop fuel cells for submarines?

Yes. In 2006, UTC Power began to design and develop a 300 kW PEM fuel cell power module for use in submarines. These 300 kW PEM fuel cells are designed to operate on reformed ethanol and pure oxygen.