In Japan, NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD. (NTK) and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) have announced the establishment of CECYLLS Co., Ltd., a joint venture company to manufacture and sell cylindrical cell stacks as the power generating elements used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).
According to a joint statement, the two companies had concluded an agreement in July 2019 to establish the joint venture to manufacture and sell cylindrical cell stacks. Cylindrical fuel stacks are structures of elements – a laminate of fuel electrodes, electrolytes, and air electrodes – on the outer surface of a high-strength ceramic substrate tube, which produces a power-generating reaction.
The elements are serially connected by a conductive ceramic interconnector (cylindrical horizontal-stripe cell stack), allowing for efficient generation of low current, high voltage electricity.
These cylindrical cell stacks are used as the power generating elements used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) that generate electricity using oxygen (O2) from the air, along with hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) extracted from reformed town gas or other sources. The cell stacks that are the core component for power generation are composed entirely of ceramic.
MHPS’ SOFC is the latest in technology to utilize clean hydrogen as a fuel source. The new company CECYLLS Co, which was established on January 29, 2020, will utilize NTK’s mass production technologies of ceramics to produce and sell MHPS’ cylindrical cell stacks that feature long-life and efficient heat utilization capabilities.
