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CFU - Ceramic Fuel Cells

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I certainly dont know everything about CFU, was there ever mention of them working with a car maker ? Car makers seem to be more interested in hydrogen at least from what I can see.

In fact the biggest threat to CFU may be from the hydrogen fuel cell industry.
Hydrogen fuel cells are understood by most people everywhere, popular I would suggest. I dont believe people get what CFU are doing with natural gas and are put off by the apparent release of CO2.

Has any-one been watching Panasonic?
http://tinyurl.com/ykj6sl9
http://tinyurl.com/ygxo3za

May be too late to go after CFU for their IP, it will come at a hefty price, and as far as the business goes its a bit too early for that. Yes its possible there may be take over, just doesn't seem probable too me.
 
frankblack said:
I certainly dont know everything about CFU, was there ever mention of them working with a car maker ? Car makers seem to be more interested in hydrogen at least from what I can see.
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Hydrogen isn't the way cars are going. It is battery technology.

If you could run a fuel cell fuelled from natural gas alongside the battery, then you don't need the combustion engine. No catyltic convertors, no electronic control, no timing belt etc. Big savings. And you can run the car a lot further than just battery alone. That's why car makers are looking at it.
 

Yes I understand about the battery technology. Is there any evidence of car makers working with CFU or looking at their stuff , because I may have to buy some more.
 
Look at post 232. antz mentions Volkswagon.

....................................................................................
 
Knobby22 said:
Look at post 232. antz mentions Volkswagon.

....................................................................................
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Yes that's true, however VW were looking at generators for the home not car.
When this was put to CFCL the reply from them was it has nothing to do with fuel cells at all. Or them
 
frankblack said:
Yes that's true, however VW were looking at generators for the home not car.
When this was put to CFCL the reply from them was it has nothing to do with fuel cells at all. Or them
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Yes and nothing innovative about them either, they're simply a VW engine running on natural gas, weighs nearly a ton and is probably loud enough to be annoying, not to mention the polution would far exceed CFCL's method. They do state though that they use the heat generated for the house and as such their efficiency is up to 92%(though I'd say it would produce far more than could be used in an average house so 92% is probably a pipe dream). It also outputs 20kW @ 400v so I assume you'll need 3 phase installed(they mention 32Amps, yet 400v@32A = 12.8kW maybe the 20kW is at max RPM and 32A is at the most efficient operating RPM)

Would be interesting to see a comparison of the emissions.

Link
Volkswagen is actually really using a car engine inside the BluEco power plant.
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The thing is huge compared to the BlueGen, not sure I'd want one in my garage

cheers
 
MACCA350 said:
Yes and nothing innovative about them either, they're simply a VW engine running on natural gas,
The thing is huge compared to the BlueGen, not sure I'd want one in my garage

cheers
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Sad and sorry tale it is too
Why couldnt they use the brilliant CFCL fuel cells, the world would be a better place for us all
 
This sounds suspiciously similar to CFU's compound. Are the americans trying to steal CFU's IP/ patents without paying licensing or even giving them credit?


“Mystery” Ceramic Could Lead to Cheaper, Stronger Hydrogen

A team of researchers at Georgia Tech University has developed a new high-tech ceramic material that could make solid oxide fuel cells less costly and less finicky, and much more durable and efficient. The material is called Barium-Zirconium-Cerium-Yttrium-Ytterbuim Oxide. [Ed note: Say that three times fast and you get a gold star.] I don’t know if it’s any less of a tongue twister, but it’s known as BZCYYb for short.

Solid oxide fuel cells are of interest because they can generate energy without the need for an expensive catalyst such as platinum, which is typically used in hydrogen fuel cells. While nanotechnology is enabling the development of hydrogen fuel cells that use less platinum, with BZCYYb the prospects look good for ditching the precious metal entirely in favor of more sustainable technology””if solid oxide systems can be developed in a commercially viable form, that is.
 

Yes, this topic was briefly covered yesterday when I supplied a link to said story. MACCA350 has emailed CFCL about it I think.
I certainly hope this doesnt lead to a long drawn out expensive legal action in the near future.
 
frankblack said:
Yes, this topic was briefly covered yesterday when I supplied a link to said story. MACCA350 has emailed CFCL about it I think.
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Yep, yesterday: "I've emailed the link to CFCL and they have passed it onto their Chief Technology Officer who also manages their patent portfolio"

I'll let you know if I get any further communications.

I certainly hope this doesnt lead to a long drawn out expensive legal action in the near future.
Click to expand...
Hopefully their patents are up to scratch.

cheers
 
bugmenot said:
This sounds suspiciously similar to CFU's compound. Are the americans trying to steal CFU's IP/ patents without paying licensing or even giving them credit?
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Sadly,I have been giving this more thought.

This is good news for CFU, its validating all their work, showing the world its the way to go, and its a bit of free publicity.
Advertising the virtues of Solid oxide fuel cells is a good thing.
Unless they have a proven product, something to offer, a manufacturing plant,(and no body else has that), they are not going to be a threat to any one.
I have been searching and can't find any competitor for CFCL with a product or business plan, that works.

MY any one interested in CFU will need to wait for a result out of Copenhagen as this will determine the look and feel of the marketing for CFU and the level of upside, for all of us.
 

What about that English mob? From memory they plan to be producing within 2 years. They are mentioned earlier in the thread.
 
Knobby22 said:
What about that English mob? From memory they plan to be producing within 2 years. They are mentioned earlier in the thread.
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Yes, http://www.cerespower.com/
Cant find anything substantial, I think they are testing their fuel cells, no results, unless they are hiding their info, nothing but dreams. And if they are saying 2 years now, that really means 3-4 now doesnt it.
By then, even in 2 years, where will CFU be. Lets assume CFUs product works as advertised, and get taken up by the market, there's no catching CFU they are too far out in front. Really only CFU can stuff this up.
The next competitor, if there is one, will have to be cheaper or better, and thats going to be too hard for Ceres.

The nearest to CFU would have been Panasonic,
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/15/panasonic_punts_fuel_cell/
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/0...ome-fuel-cell-cogeneration-facility/#comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMAj2MqUkzU

Especially being in Japan, I wonder how they are going ? Maybe they are having problems, running too hot ? not as efficient either.

The truth is if CFU cant make this work, no body can. And that will be the end of the dream.
 
Good points, frankblack. 2 years looks like a dream to me also.

The Panasonic fuel cell is not a threat. There is no infrastructure for Hydrogen. Maybe in 20 years but not now.
 
Knobby22 said:
Good points, frankblack. 2 years looks like a dream to me also.

The Panasonic fuel cell is not a threat. There is no infrastructure for Hydrogen. Maybe in 20 years but not now.
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The way I understand it though, this Panasonic box takes natural gas in, then converts this into Hydrogen.
Sounds more expensive and has too many parts if this is the case.
I don't like, but why would I.
I'm an unashamed CFU fan.
 
Saw this on NewScientist, whilst it doesn't mention CFU, I wonder what might result from the dollars, especially the $10m "policy advice" fund.


I hold CFU.
 
Hi guy's as i disclosed previously i'm a massive noob and hav no idea wat is goin on

Wats the go with CFU!!! Why has it dropped to 26 cents?????
 
Eddie said:
Hi guy's as i disclosed previously i'm a massive noob and hav no idea wat is goin on

Wats the go with CFU!!! Why has it dropped to 26 cents?????
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The price of shares fluctuate all the time, even more so for small companies like CFU. And CFU is still highly speculative stock, high risk, high reward.
Bigger more experienced players can at times pull the strings, they can stage manage to their advantage, provided the fundamentals don't change.
No news is bad news.
And then comes the time when stop losses are triggered, so the small players cover themselves.
Theres no reason, its about the dollar.
But if its cheap enough could be an opportunity to buy some more.
 
Not sure if this is related to the previous Georgia Tech article a few posts up?

New material could hold the key to one type of clean-fuel technology.

Researchers announce breakthrough in fuel-cell technology

Researchers say the ceramic-like substance - detailed recently in the journal Science - could help expand the applications for solid oxide-fuel (SOF) cells that generate electricity directly from various liquid or gaseous fuels without the need to separate hydrogen.

Though the long-term durability of the new mixed ion-conductor matter must still be proved, development could address two of the most vexing problems facing SOF cells - tolerance of sulfur in fuels and resistance to carbon buildup known as coking, the experts explain.

They say the new material could also allow SOF cells - which convert fuel to electricity more efficiently than other fuel cells - to operate at lower temperatures - potentially reducing material and fabrication costs. The research was supported by the Department of Energy's Basic Energy Science Catalysis Science Program.
 
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