Genre: Information/Explanation

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has successfully tested a combined-cycle power generation system incorporating solid oxide fuel cells and a micro gas turbine , a first in Japan . MHI has been developing the system since 2004 , and the recent testing verified 75kW of power generation by the system at the company's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works . MHI now aims to start production of a 200kW combined-cycle power generation system this October . The company will then continue developing systems with larger capacities and higher efficiency to eventually develop a system suitable for utility applications . The SOFC is a ceramic-based fuel cell that directly produces electricity by chemical reaction between oxygen in the air and hydrogen removed from city gas through reforming . The SOFC-MGT combined-cycle power generation system uses unreacted hydrogen contained in the city gas exhausted from the SOFC and hot air also discharged from the SOFC . The gas and air from the SOFC are used to drive an MGT to generate electricity . This two-stage power generation system achieved power generation efficiency above 50 per cent , significantly higher than conventional power generation systems . MHI said large-scale SOFC combined-cycle power generation system could help reduce CO 2 emissions , alongside nuclear power generation and high-efficiency utility-use thermal power generation systems . Source : The Engineer Date Published : August 08 , 2006