Recent from talks
Bloom Energy Server
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Bloom Energy Server
The Bloom Energy Server or Bloom Box is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generator made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that takes a variety of input fuels, including liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons produced from biological sources, to produce electricity at or near the site where it will be used. It withstands temperatures of up to 1,800 °F (980 °C). According to the company, a single cell (one 100 mm × 100 mm plate consisting of three ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.
The fuel cells have an operational life expectancy of around 10 years; based on predictions on fuel costs, the "break even" point for those who purchase the device is around 8 years. The cell's technology continues to rely on non-renewable sources of energy to produce electricity, and because it is not a hydrogen fuel cell, it still produces carbon dioxide (an important greenhouse gas) during operation. As the carbon dioxide effluent from the anode is not mixed with the oxygen depleted air coming off the cathode, only water and unconsumed fuel, it can be separated for sequestration or other non-atmospheric disposition by simply cooling the exhaust stream.
In 2011, Bloom stated that two hundred servers had been deployed in California for corporations including Google, Yahoo, and Wal-Mart.
The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates of size 100 × 100 mm.
Each plate is coated with a green nickel oxide-based ink on one side, forming the anode, and another black (probably Lanthanum strontium manganite) ink on the cathode side.
Wired reported that the secret ingredient may be yttria-stabilized zirconia based upon US patent 7572530 that was granted to Bloom in 2009; this material is also one of the most common electrolyte materials in the field. US patent application 20080261099, assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation, says that the "electrolyte includes yttria stabilized zirconia and a scandia-stabilized zirconia, such as a scandia ceria stabilized zirconia".
ScSZ has a higher conductivity than YSZ at lower temperatures, which provides greater efficiency and higher reliability when used as an electrolyte. Scandia is scandium oxide (Sc
2O
3) which is a transition metal oxide that costs between US$1,400 and US$2,000 per kilogram in 99.9% pure form. Current annual worldwide production of scandium is improving to around 40 tons per year since 2022, up from the 15-20 tons annually in previous years. Most of the 5,000 kilograms used annually is sourced from Soviet era stockpiles.[citation needed]
To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal alloy plates for electric conductance between the two ceramic fast ion conductor plates. In competing lower temperature fuel cells, platinum is required at the cathode.
The current[when?] cost of each hand-made 100 kW Bloom Energy Server is $700,000–800,000. In 2010, the company announced plans for a smaller, home sized Bloom server priced under $3,000. Bloom estimated the size of a home-sized server at 1 kW, although others recommended 5 kW. The capital cost is $7–8 per watt.
According to The New York Times (Green Blog), in early 2011 "... Bloom Energy ... unveiled a service to allow customers to buy the electricity generated by its fuel cells without incurring the capital costs of purchasing the six-figure devices.... Under the Bloom Electrons service, customers sign 10-year contracts to purchase the electricity generated by Bloom Energy Servers while the company retains ownership of the fuel cells and responsibility for their maintenance.... 'We’re able to tell customers, ‘You don’t have to put any money up front, you pay only for the electrons you use and it’s good for your pocketbook and good for planet,’ ' [CEO K.R. Sridhar] said."
On 24 February 2010, Sridhar claimed that his devices were making electricity for $0.08–.10/kWh using natural gas, cheaper than electricity prices in some parts of the United States, such as California. Twenty percent of the cost savings depend upon avoiding transfer losses that result from energy grid use.
Hub AI
Bloom Energy Server AI simulator
(@Bloom Energy Server_simulator)
Bloom Energy Server
The Bloom Energy Server or Bloom Box is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generator made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that takes a variety of input fuels, including liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons produced from biological sources, to produce electricity at or near the site where it will be used. It withstands temperatures of up to 1,800 °F (980 °C). According to the company, a single cell (one 100 mm × 100 mm plate consisting of three ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.
The fuel cells have an operational life expectancy of around 10 years; based on predictions on fuel costs, the "break even" point for those who purchase the device is around 8 years. The cell's technology continues to rely on non-renewable sources of energy to produce electricity, and because it is not a hydrogen fuel cell, it still produces carbon dioxide (an important greenhouse gas) during operation. As the carbon dioxide effluent from the anode is not mixed with the oxygen depleted air coming off the cathode, only water and unconsumed fuel, it can be separated for sequestration or other non-atmospheric disposition by simply cooling the exhaust stream.
In 2011, Bloom stated that two hundred servers had been deployed in California for corporations including Google, Yahoo, and Wal-Mart.
The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates of size 100 × 100 mm.
Each plate is coated with a green nickel oxide-based ink on one side, forming the anode, and another black (probably Lanthanum strontium manganite) ink on the cathode side.
Wired reported that the secret ingredient may be yttria-stabilized zirconia based upon US patent 7572530 that was granted to Bloom in 2009; this material is also one of the most common electrolyte materials in the field. US patent application 20080261099, assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation, says that the "electrolyte includes yttria stabilized zirconia and a scandia-stabilized zirconia, such as a scandia ceria stabilized zirconia".
ScSZ has a higher conductivity than YSZ at lower temperatures, which provides greater efficiency and higher reliability when used as an electrolyte. Scandia is scandium oxide (Sc
2O
3) which is a transition metal oxide that costs between US$1,400 and US$2,000 per kilogram in 99.9% pure form. Current annual worldwide production of scandium is improving to around 40 tons per year since 2022, up from the 15-20 tons annually in previous years. Most of the 5,000 kilograms used annually is sourced from Soviet era stockpiles.[citation needed]
To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal alloy plates for electric conductance between the two ceramic fast ion conductor plates. In competing lower temperature fuel cells, platinum is required at the cathode.
The current[when?] cost of each hand-made 100 kW Bloom Energy Server is $700,000–800,000. In 2010, the company announced plans for a smaller, home sized Bloom server priced under $3,000. Bloom estimated the size of a home-sized server at 1 kW, although others recommended 5 kW. The capital cost is $7–8 per watt.
According to The New York Times (Green Blog), in early 2011 "... Bloom Energy ... unveiled a service to allow customers to buy the electricity generated by its fuel cells without incurring the capital costs of purchasing the six-figure devices.... Under the Bloom Electrons service, customers sign 10-year contracts to purchase the electricity generated by Bloom Energy Servers while the company retains ownership of the fuel cells and responsibility for their maintenance.... 'We’re able to tell customers, ‘You don’t have to put any money up front, you pay only for the electrons you use and it’s good for your pocketbook and good for planet,’ ' [CEO K.R. Sridhar] said."
On 24 February 2010, Sridhar claimed that his devices were making electricity for $0.08–.10/kWh using natural gas, cheaper than electricity prices in some parts of the United States, such as California. Twenty percent of the cost savings depend upon avoiding transfer losses that result from energy grid use.
Recent media