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  Radio Singapore International 5 Nov 05
Rolls Royce and Fuel Cell Technology
 by Melanie Yip

In recent years, the world has had to bear the brunt of high energy prices, in addition to coping with competing oil demands. The high energy prices are also reminding us that, perhaps, we should start exploring other means of producing energy.

In Perspective this week, we'll take a look at some companies that are exploring the possibility of converting fuel cell technology as an energy alternative. I'm Melanie Yip, stay with me in the program.

When you think of Rolls Royce, you'll most probably think of a brand of luxury car, or even manufacturer of commercial aircraft engines. Rolls Royce which provides power systems engineering began researching fuel cell technologies in 1992 and decided to pursue the commercialization of its solid oxide fuel cell expertise in 2002.

But what exactly is a fuel cell, and why is it billed as an important source of alternative energy? Dr Nigel Hart heads the Advanced Technology Center at Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems in Singapore.

NH: In the simplest explanation, a fuel cell does the reverse of electrolysis. There was an experiment in which we've done traditionally in the science syllabus in the United Kingdom. In school, almost every child at the age of 14 learns how to electrolyze water. You literally just take a beaker of water, you put two electrodes in, connect it to the battery, and the students see gas forming at each electrode. They collect the gas and then, using the test for hydrogen, and oxygen, they clearly show what you've actually done is split water, which is H2O, into the elements of hydrogen and oxygen. What the fuel cell does is the exact opposite. It takes the hydrogen and oxygen, and manages to put them together to form water. And the energy which you had to out in was raised to separate it, and extract it as a flow of electrons. So in the simplest form, the fuel cell is the exact opposite of that experiment.

And one of the biggest benefits of using fuel cells as an alternative source of energy is efficiency, says Dr Hart.

NH: If you have a fuel, and you want to turn it into electricity, it makes sense if you can turn it directly by using electrical chemical process. Normal power generation, you combust your fuel, you then turn it into motion. You then out it into a generator, and from that, you turn it into electricity. First, the face of combustion, your efficiency is limited. There is a maximum theoretical efficiency obtained, and if you don't combust your fuel, you electronically recombine it, you get much higher theoretical efficiency. The other benefit is emissions. When you have fuel cell technology, you don't combust your fuels, you electronically combine it, and these are eliminated.

And when energy supply meets competing demands, many countries should look into exploring other forms of energy resources. Dr Nigel Hart again.

NH: We were limited with fossil fuels, it wasn't unlimited resource. We had to start thinking about energy policy, and that really sparked the interest. And it growing into what we know today, as people are actually looking for alternative sources, and realizing how the world and our energy policy go together in the global environment. We started to work within the technology, to realize that there are many types of fuel cells. They are very different. The term fuel cell, basically only refers to the electrical chemical reaction of purged combustion, but when trying to engineer it into products, there are lots of different products, and lots of different challenges. And just because one type of fuel cell experience is a problem doesn't mean that it applies to all types.

Dr Nigel Hart, Head of the Advanced Technology Center at Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems in Singapore.

Stephen Green is Director of Business Development at Rolls Royce Fuel Cells Systems in Singapore. He shares the history behind the company's interests in developing fuel cell technology.

SG: Rolls Royce designs and manufactures all the nuclear propulsion systems for the British Royal Navy. About 10-15 years ago, the Royal Navy started looking at new propulsion methods for its nuclear submarine. The requirements obviously being quiet, very fuel efficient, meaning longer deployments with minimal fuel carrying requirements. And also, minimally operated in an oxygen-less environment, was really where Rolls Royce, and the British Royal Navy started looking at fuel cells, in terms of the technology.

He continues by explaining the companies scope of business.

SG: Rolls Royce is really a power systems engineering company. We provide power systems for land, sea and air. We provide a range of power generation equipment, both gas turbine based, and reciprocate engine based for the power generation industry around the world. We also have a very large presence in the oil and gas business, providing large pumps and compressors for the oil and gas industry, depending on anything between a quarter or a third of the oil and gas that is consumed in America is actually pumped down from Canada by Rolls Royce equipment.

In line with its business presence expansion, Singapore was chosen as a launching pad for Rolls Royce in the Asia Pacific region earlier this year.

SG: Not least because we have quite a big presence, we have very good relationships with the government, and the economic players at large. Part of the reason for us coming here is looking at how we are going to commercialize the technology, and also how we can address some challenges that are current is getting the technology in the market. If you look at the manufacturing production, the materials that are involved in our fuel cell product, it is not dissimilar to the semi-conductor industry, in terms of the type of knowledge, it would be around there. So, in terms of us having a position, this is a very good place to do business. We have an abundance of well-educated talent by way of work force. This was the obvious place for us to set up our Asia Pacific headquarters.

Stephen gives us a glimpse of the development of various business units in the Asia headquarters.

SG: Our marine business is located out at Tuas, and they have the capability to support the marine industry, with complete specialist ship design, complete propulsion design, and equipment from fuelling. Our energy business here supports power generation customers, oil and gas customers across the region, that's all the way from China, down through to India. We have two joint venture companies here in Singapore. One repairs aero engine components, and another completely overhauls and maintains large end engines. We also have some staff based out at the airport, looking after the engines of Singapore Airlines and other carriers. Given that these engines are so reliable, we see disproportionate staffing levels.

And the company has set a time frame for its plans to produce and market their fuel cells technology. Stephen Green.

SG: In 2008, we plan to introduce to the market what we believe will be the world's first cost competitive, clean and quiet alternative to current heat engine technologies. Heat engine technologies are essentially combustion technologies that have dominated the power generation industry for about 200 years or so. The fuel cell is a very different technology. Instead of power, or generating electrical power combustion, we generate power through chemistry.

And the final energy product, says Stephen Green, is a self-contained, power generation package.

SG: It will be modular, made up of fuel cell stacks. It will be integrated with an onboard fuel pre-processor, micro-turbine. The system's pressurizer is what we call the high system or a turbo charged system. We believe in terms of realizing the commercial applications of this technology, you have to go up in pressure, and you go to go up in temperature. So those are completely self-contained power generator packages, ready for plug in fuel takeaway power. It is completely self-contained with power electronics, and fuel pre-processing/.

Stephen Green - Director of Business Development at Rolls Royce Fuel Cells Systems in Singapore.

That ends Perspective this week. For Radio Singapore International, I'm Melanie Yip.
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