Perhaps if they get Smaller

[Bruce626]

Redox’s PowerSERG 2-80, also called “The Cube,” connects to your natural gas line and electrochemically converts methane to electricity.

The first generation has a nameplate capacity of 25 kilowatts, which can power a gas station or small grocery store, and is roughly the size of a dishwasher.

The system can run at an 80% efficiency when used to provide both heat and power.

[Zil]

And we use it on the boat how?

[Bruce626]

On my catamaran I have a propane tank mounted on the port transom which feeds a LPG stove for cooking. Feeding a small fuel cell could be done off that tank or off a second tank - or perhaps a larger tank. This would provide silent reliable power - likely for those of you who are not in the tropics where there is an abundance of sun outside of the monsoon season. You wouldn't be running your engine to charge or need an expensive noisy hazardous wind generator. Currently my 740 watts of solar does OK but other climates may need backup.

[robert sailor]

Not cheap, they have a lifespan

[Bruce626]

None of the charging options are cheap - and some options require fuel. Fuel cells have few moving parts so hopefully the lifespan would be extended by this fact. They are also not hot, don't vibrate, and make little noise. It is possible that they could be installed in some space and not accessed for extended periods of time - attributes that are not normally associated with gensets. Seemed like an interesting technology to watch until they get smaller - unless one has a very large yacht (or powered by electric motors).

[skipmac]

But the cube works on methane which is not the same as propane or am I confused?

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by skipmac

But the cube works on methane which is not the same as propane or am I confused?

You are correct, compressed natural gas is mostly methane and available for boats, but much harder to come by than LPG which is a mixture of propane and butane.

[rebel heart]

I guess there's a reason so many people have Honda generators.

[Bruce626]

rebel heart wrote: "I guess there's a reason so many people have Honda generators." ==> Yes, I just junked mine - what a piece of sheet made in India, nothing but trouble.

skipmac wrote: "But the cube works on methane which is not the same as propane" ==> True, but here in the third world it may not actually be 'propane', it is also called LPG or 'cooking gas'. Probably a good idea to find out before buying one though.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Bruce626

rebel heart wrote: "I guess there's a reason so many people have Honda generators." ==> Yes, I just junked mine - what a piece of sheet made in India, nothing but trouble.

Really? Quite the opposite experienced reported by almost every other Honda owner I have encountered. Wonder why you had a problem and most other owners loved theirs?

Originally Posted by Bruce626

skipmac wrote: "But the cube works on methane which is not the same as propane" ==> True, but here in the third world it may not actually be 'propane', it is also called LPG or 'cooking gas'. Probably a good idea to find out before buying one though.

Natural gas varies but is typically 75% methane. Not sure how the term is used overseas but in the US and other places I have researched LPG is propane and/or butane in varying ratios and very little methane as far as I know. What you would need for powering a fuel cell would be CNG which is compressed natural gas.

Haven't studied the technology closely but I wonder how a fuel cell deals with the 25% of the natural gas that is not methane?

[senormechanico]

It might work if you have a big boat, designed a system to harvest the methane and eat a lot of beans.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Bruce626

rebel heart wrote: "I guess there's a reason so many people have Honda generators." ==> Yes, I just junked mine - what a piece of sheet made in India, nothing but trouble.

I think they're all made in Japan or China.

Either way, you're the first person I've heard of who has ever said anything against a Honda generator.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I think they're all made in Japan or China.

Either way, you're the first person I've heard of who has ever said anything against a Honda generator.

too loud when on power, worse then marine generators, mega spoils an anchorage. why do their users think they are quiet

nothing worse then that revving up and down at night


grr, hate them

dave

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

too loud when on power, worse then marine generators, mega spoils an anchorage. why do their users think they are quiet

nothing worse then that revving up and down at night


grr, hate them

dave

I only hear them when I'm parked right behind one, and there are plenty of noise pollutions that people can contribute. Most wind generators, stereos, generators, etc.

The ~4 hours a week that we run our Honda on average I can't imagine anyone has ever even been around to hear, let alone be affected by.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

It might work if you have a big boat, designed a system to harvest the methane and eat a lot of beans.

Add a composting head with a recovery system to supplement the beans and you could be energy independent.