Title: Garbage In, Power Out: South Carolina BMW Plant Demonstrates Landfill Gas to Hydrogen Fuel Source:
breakingenergy.com URL Source:http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/2 ... landfill-gas-to-hydrogen-fuel/ Published:Aug 28, 2015 Author:Breaking Energy Post Date:2015-09-20 19:51:23 by Operation 40 Keywords:Hydrogen, Renewable, Energy Views:597 Comments:1
Hydrogen Fueling-The plant BMW plant in Greer, South Carolina is home to the worlds largest fleet of fuel cell forklifts. Photo courtesy of BMW Manufacturing.
A BMW manufacturing plant in Greer, South Carolina, demonstrated that fuel cells can be powered by fuel from a unique source: Garbage.
In a first-of-its-kind demonstration, the Energy Department, BMW and project partners Ameresco, Gas Technology Institute and the South Carolina Research Authority powered some of the facilitys fuel cell forklifts with hydrogen produced on-site from biomethane gas at a nearby landfill.
In order to achieve this, project researchers and engineers had to overcome two main obstacles. The first challenge involved converting the biomethane gas into hydrogen. This required the development and testing of multiple tanks with catalysts for removing contaminants. The second was purifying the hydrogen enough so it could be used in fuel cells. To do this, the project team had to purge the gas stream of all non-hydrogen molecules, including nitrogen.
Fuel cell forklifts have several advantages compared to standard forklifts that use lead-acid batteries. Unlike batteries, fuel cells can be rapidly refueled in less than three minutes, boosting productivity by eliminating the time and cost associated with battery change-outs and charging that can take up to several hours. Fuel-cell-powered lift trucks can reduce labor cost of refueling and recharging by up to 80 percent and require 75 percent less space as compared to battery recharging equipment. Also, fuel cells provide consistent power throughout work shifts, unlike battery-powered forklifts, which may experience power reductions during a shift...snip Continue: http://breakingenergy.com/2015/08/28/garbage-in-power-out-south-carolina-bmw-plant-demonstrates-landfill-gas-to-hydrogen-fuel/
"Hydrogen is greener compared to lead acid batteries..." - Cleveland Beaufort, BMW
In a first-of-its-kind demonstration, the Energy Department, BMW and project partners Ameresco, Gas Technology Institute and the South Carolina Research Authority powered some of the facilitys fuel cell forklifts with hydrogen produced on-site from biomethane gas at a nearby landfill.
Geez, you still are awed by shining things and flashing lights and technology that is almost 100 years old.