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TESTING OF FUEL CELLS TO RECOVER ENERGY FROM LANDFILL GAS: GROTON LANDFILL
Citation:
Preston, J. AND J. C. Trocciola. TESTING OF FUEL CELLS TO RECOVER ENERGY FROM LANDFILL GAS: GROTON LANDFILL. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-98/126 (NTIS PB99-105199), 1998.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report summarizes the results of follow-on tests following a four-phase EPA program. The environmental impact of widespread use of this concept would be a significant reduction of global warming gas emissions (methane and carbon dioxide). The follow-on testing, conducted by Northeast Utilities at the Groton, CT, landfill, indicated the suitability of the landfill-gas-to-energy conversion equipment to operate on a wide range of landfill gas compositions. Significant test results include successful transportability of the landfill-gas-to-energy equipment and operation of the gas pretreatment unit for an additional 4168 hours (total of 6413 hours) while continuing to remove halides and sulfur compounds to much less than the specified <3 ppmV. The fuel cell operated for an additional 3313 hours (total of 4020 hours) and reflected 38.1% efficiency at 140 kW with a maximum output of 165 kW. Fuel cell adjusted availability was 96.5%, with one forced outage in the entire 4020 hours of operation on landfill gas. International Fuel Cells Corporation conducted the original four-phase program to show that fuel cell energy recovery using a commercial phosphoric acid fuel cell is both environmentally sound and commercially feasible. The original program was conducted at the Penrose landfill in Sun Valley, CA.