REDUCING THE MANUFACTURING COST OF TUBULAR SOFC TECHNOLOGY

In recent years, Westinghouse Electric Corporation has made great stri des in advancing tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology towar ds commercialization by the year 2001. In 1993, Westinghouse initiated a program to develop a 'MWe-Class' (1-3 MWe) pressurized SOFC (PSOFC) /gas turbine (GT) combined cycle power system for distributed power ap plications because of its (1) ultra-high efficiency (similar to 63% ne t AC/LHV CH4), (2) its compatibility with a factory packaged, minimum site work philosophy, and (3) its cost effectiveness. Since then two c ost studies on this market entry product performed by consultants to t he US Department of Energy have confirmed Westinghouse cost studies th at fully installed costs of under $1300/kWe can be achieved in the ear ly commercialization years for such small PSOFC/GT power systems. The paper will present the results of these cost studies in the areas of c ell manufacturing cost, PSOFC generator manufacturing cost, balance-of -plant (BOP) cost, and system installation cost. In addition, cost of electricity calculations will be presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.