ENGINEERING QUESTIONS

• Are fuel cell systems “real world”?
  Many fuel cell systems are already in place nationwide to power critical 911 communications networks. They provide back-up power and/or primary power at sites where no grid power is available. Our customers have been impressed (see references) with the fuel cells’ performance. Fuel cells are not new technology. They have been used by NASA for over forty years. Only recently have fuel cells become affordable to industry.  Our installations have proven themselves worthy over the past four years with repeat purchases from many state and federal public safety clients.

• What is a typical fuel cell integration?
  The most common fuel cell integration combines fuel cells with a small battery set or standard UPS to provide seamless back-up power. When grid power is lost, the batteries or UPS pick up the load. The fuel cell senses the power loss and turns on. After sixty seconds the fuel cell comes on and provides power to carry the equipment load and recharge the batteries or UPS. When grid power returns, the fuel cell switches to standby mode, waiting for the next time grid power is lost. Custom integrations may incorporate rectifiers and DC to DC converters as well as multiple fuel cells to provide a variety of voltages and/or power outputs.

• What size fuel cells are available?
  havePOWER fuel cell systems are comprised of one (1) kW and five (5) kW modular “building blocks”. Systems are installed stacked in parallel to match the customer’s load requirements in a minimum N+1 configuration.

• What voltages will a fuel cell system provide?
  havePOWER fuel cells are available, off-the-shelf, in 12, 24, 48 and 125 VDC +/-. Combined with a separate inverter they can also deliver multiple voltage packages in AC power.

• How is the fuel cell equipment installed?
  Most often, fuel cells are rack-mounted in standard 19” or 23” telecom racks in a customer’s shelter. Unlike generators, there is no need for a separate shelter room. The fuel cells can be mounted alongside your radio and other equipment. havePOWER also supplies fuel cells in their own NEBS Level 3 Certified enclosure. See the following link (products) for further information.

• How do you handle customer shelter environmental conditions in an emergency?
  havePOWER fuel cell systems are deployed with their own DC powered fan sets that are easily retrofitted into a customer’s shelter. The fans are designed to keep the shelter from overheating and to maintain ambient temperature during emergency power outages.

• What is the expected duty cycle of your fuel cell equipment?
  havePOWER’s air cooled, one (1) kW fuel cell module comes with a one-year unconditional warranty. The mean time between failures for this equipment is in excess of 40,000 hours.

• What codes and standards does the system meet?
  CSA
  NFPA
  NEBS III
  CE

• Are fuel cells able to be monitored and started remotely?
  Yes. havePOWER fuel cells are internet accessable and contain alarms, remote start and status via network connections, dry contacts, or visual L.E.D. panels on the front of each unit.

• What are the temperature parameters for a fuel cell system?
  Installed in our NEBS 3 Certified Enclosure, havePOWER fuel cells operate to specification within a range from -40ºC to +46ºC ambient.

• What are the altitude parameters?
  Although our fuel cells can operate at up to 13,800 feet above sea level, our highest installation to date is approximately 11,000 feet above sea level.

• How dangerous is hydrogen?
  All fuels are combustible, and appropriate caution must be taken. However, unlike propane and diesel fuel, hydrogen is lighter than air and dissipates rapidly.  This fact greatly reduces the possibility of fire.

• What is the availability of hydrogen cylinders?
  Hydrogen cylinders are readily available nationwide, most often through a national gas supplier such as Air Gas. Cylinder refills cost approximately $9 and can be delivered directly to your communications sites. Emergency cylinders are readily available in depots throughout your state.

• How many cylinders of hydrogen will be needed on-site?
  The consumption of hydrogen during operation of a fuel cell is load following. The more power needed, the more hydrogen is consumed. A typical hydrogen “T” tank contains 300 standard cubic feet of hydrogen. See the following link for information on hydrogen consumption as it relates to the amount of power consumed. (hydrogen). Essentially, hydrogen consumption is one “T” tank per 1 kW of load per 24 hours.

• Are there any maintenance requirements?
  Since the fuel cell is air cooled, it may require the air filter to be cleaned. The filter is attached to the front of the fuel cell for easy access. No tools or equipment are necessary. No oil changes or tune-ups or coolant changes are needed, as they are with combustion generators.

• Is there a need for a maintenance contract?
  A fuel cell has no combustion; it operates by means of an electro-chemical reaction. The only moving part is a very small fan, like the fan in a desktop computer. Few moving parts result in high fuel cell reliability. Fewer moving parts mean fewer points of failure. Also, there is no need for a costly maintenance contract.