Are the fuel cells relatively quiet compared to the other prime movers?
John: A fuel cell is an electrical-chemical reaction so you do not have the mechanical shaft power. They are very quiet relative to other prime movers. They are very environmentally friendly in terms of their emissions. The largest problem with fuel cells today, as well as over the last 10-20 years that I have been involved with fuel cells, is that they are relatively expensive. It’s the age old problem of how do you get the quantity of fuel cells up so that the price can come down. It’s a wonderful technology from an environmental stand point, but it’s relatively expensive at this point in time. What about the capability of the prime mover to handle large motors starting and stopping? Are turbines more susceptible to upset than reciprocating engines due to their higher speeds? Bill: If your CHP plant is large enough, it usually does not present any problems. The largest ones I know of are not here at this campus, but at their sister campus at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champ
