The proven clean energy solution for green buildings. The PureCell® system is a game-changing fuel cell system that provides efficient, secure and clean energy to many of the world's most recognizable and progressive companies. With over 300 systems installed in 19 countries and on 6 continents, the PureCell® system delivers proven results.
Growing energy consumption is a global problem. According to the US Department of Energy, global energy use will jump by 49% between 2007 and 2035. That's why clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies are so important.
The PureCell® system is a combined heat and power system that is contributing to our collective energy independence by providing an unparalleled blend of benefits:
More than half of the energy potential in traditional, centralized 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, the PureCell® system can attain energy conversion efficiencies as high as 90 percent.
With industry-best system efficiencies of up to 90%, the PureCell system is able to extract more useable energy from the same amount of fuel - which translates to significantly lower energy costs for your facility.
Now your facility can operate either in conjunction with or independent of the utility grid through the PureCell system's "dual-mode" option. Grid independence means your business will enjoy the security of assured power and continuous operation during natural and man-made emergencies and grid fluctuations.
Fuel cells operate without combustion, so they are virtually pollution free. They have no moving parts making fuel cells a quiet and reliable source of power. And, by operating in water balance the PureCell system saves millions of gallons of water when compared to central generation and other fuel cell technologies.
Generous incentives are available for clean and highly-efficient fuel cell systems such as the PureCell Model 400 system:
UTC Power, backed by United Technologies (a global Fortune 50 company), offers financing options that can mean zero up-front capital costs. In uncertain times, you can count on the strength and stability of UTC.
One of the cleanest forms of power generation, the PureCell® fuel cell solution from UTC Power uses clean, quiet fuel cell technology to generate 400 kW of electric power using natural gas as input fuel. In a fuel cell, no fossil fuel combustion takes place. This clean energy solution easily meets the most stringent emissions requirements in the world. The only byproduct of the process is heat, about 1.7 MMBtu/hour (or about 500 kilowatts), that can be easily harnessed to provide space heating or domestic hot water, or with the addition of an optional absorption chiller, can produce about 50 tons of cooling.
A key feature of this product is its 20-year life which is more than twice the durability of any competitor in the marketplace. Its high electrical efficiency (42% 1st year average) remains high even at part loads down to 50%. Its ability to operate either in conjunction with the utility grid or without it is a critical feature that enables your facility to stay powered up if the grid fails. This feature is called "dual-mode" capability. This high-efficiency system is well-suited for applications requiring anywhere from 400 kilowatts to about 2.5 megawatts of baseload power.
Grid-based power originates at large power plants that are fueled by a variety of sources. Today the US grid is powered mostly by fossil fuels (nearly 70%). To make matters worse, nearly 70% of the energy potential is wasted through heat and transmission loses.
Alternatively, UTC Power's combined heat and power fuel cell systems deliver both electrical power and available thermal energy onsite to satisfy a buildings energy needs - turning potential waste into useable energy and achieving system efficiencies that are well in excess of 2x the typical electric grid.
In principle, a fuel cell operates like a battery. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. Hydrogen passes over one electrode and oxygen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat.
Hydrogen fuel is fed into the "anode" of the fuel cell. Oxygen (or air) enters the fuel cell through the cathode. Encouraged by a catalyst, the hydrogen atom splits into a proton and an electron, which take different paths to the cathode. The proton passes through the electrolyte. The electrons create a separate current that can be utilized before they return to the cathode, to be reunited with the hydrogen and oxygen in a molecule of water.
(1) Anode
As hydrogen flows into the fuel cell anode, a catalyst layer on the anode helps to separate the hydrogen atoms into protons (hydrogen ions) and electrons.
(2) Electrolyte
The electrolyte in the center allows only the protons to pass through the electrolyte to the cathode side of the fuel cell.
(3) External Circuit
The electrons cannot pass through this electrolyte and, therefore, must flow through an external circuit in the form of electric current. This current can power an electric load.
(4) Cathode
As oxygen flows into the fuel cell cathode, another catalyst layer helps the oxygen, protons, and electrons combine to produce pure water and heat.
(5) Fuel Cell Stack
Individual fuel cells can be combined into a Fuel Cell "Stack" to increase the total electrical output.
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.
Proven results: with nearly 10 million kW hours of field experience, customers benefit from lower energy costs, reduced emissions and an industry-leading 90% system efficiency, 10-year cell stack durability and 20-year product life. No other stationary fuel cell technology offers the comprehensive range of benefits that are provided by the PureCell® system.
Fuel cells fit a broad range of applications and provide customers with superior efficiency, energy security, and more environmentally responsible and sustainable operations.
These solutions provide the greatest benefits when the building can base load a majority of the power and thermal energy.
Typical market sectors for the PureCell® Model 400 fitting this profile include Supermarkets/retail, Industrial, Bottling, Healthcare, Hospitality, Mixed-use/Residential and Educational Institutions.
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.
* Average performance during 1st year of operation. Refer to the Product Data and Applications Guide for additional performance characteristics.
** Certified to 2007 California Air Resources Board standards.
§Low-grade heat assumes a return temperature of 80°F or lower; high-grade heat assumes a return temperature of 200°F or lower.
UTC Power has been servicing stationary fuel cells all over the world for over nineteen years. Our PureCell® System Model 200 fleet has experienced 95% average annual operation (including preventative maintenance) for the last six years.
An experienced technician is always available to field your questions and help keep your products running. Call us any time at 860-727-2560.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Generous incentives are available for clean and highly-efficient fuel cell systems such as the PureCell Model 400 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).
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.
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.
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.
