HELTSTACK is an FP7 IAPP project, the acronym derives from the full name of the project “High Efficiency Low Temperature SOFC Stack“.
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Project full title: High Efficiency Low Temperature SOFC Stack
Project acronym: HELTSTACK
Grant agreement for: Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways
Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IAPP
Grant agreement no.: 612431 Project duration: 48 months: 01/03/2014 – 28/02/2018
ABSTRACT
The main development challenges related to the commercialisation of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology and SOFC systems lie in reduction of its cost, increasing lifetime and efficiency. SOFC stacks are the key components of SOFC systems, form approximately one third of the total system cost. Stacks with high performance and efficiency are required for high system efficiency. HELTSTACK combines the top European know-how in single cells, coatings, gaskets, and stack designs to produce a novel 1 kW SOFC stack, together with the proof of concept of a 10 kWe SOFC stack. Multiple improvements over the state-of-the-art in cost, performance, efficiency, and reliability will be stated. The project is based on the products of industrial partners Elcogen AS in Estonia (cells) and Elcogen OY in Finland (stacks), and motivated by their interest to further develop and commercialise their products. Other project partners include 2 research institutes: National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB) supports cell development and coordinates their use in stack; VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. (Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy) provides stack design and evaluation. Transfer of knowledge in HELTSTACK promotes harmonised development of cell, stack and their characterisation methods. NICPB provides Elcogen OY knowledge about achieving optimal cell properties and their adjustment for stack production, also about cell design for optimal electrochemical performance. Elcogen provides VTT knowledge about cell mechanical properties important for stack production. VTT provides Elcogen knowledge about long term cell testing. Elcogen provides NICPB knowledge about ceramic production challenges, to improve cell production efficiency. All manufacturing methods, designs and materials are chosen to be suitable for mass production and lead to decreased costs compared to current state-of-the-art. HELTSTACK outcomes will form the basis for Elcogen companies’ commercial SOFC cell and stack technology subject to immediate commercialisation.
