Bloom Energy Server, bloom energy stock, bloomenergy, bloom box, bloom energy stock symbol, bloombox
Sunday, August 29, 2010
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The Bloom Energy Server (commonly referred to as the Bloom Box) is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that uses liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons (such as gasoline, diesel or propane[1] produced from fossil or bio sources) to generate electricity on the site where it will be used; Bloom Energy representatives assert that it is at least as efficient as a traditional large-scale coal power station. According to the company, a single cell (one 100mm × 100mm metal alloy plate between two ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.
The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates (100mm × 100mm) which are claimed to be made from "beach sand" but are in fact scandia stabilized zirconia ScSZ. Each ceramic plate is coated with a green Nickel oxide[disambiguation needed] -based ink on one side (anode) and another black (probably Lanthanum strontium manganite) ink on the other side (cathode). According to the San Jose Mercury News, "Bloom's secret technology apparently lies in the proprietary green ink that acts as the anode and the black ink that acts as the cathode--" but in fact these materials are widely known in the field of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Wired reports that the secret ingredient may be yttria-stabilized zirconia based upon a 2006 patent filing (7,572,530) that was granted to Bloom in 2009; but this material is also one of the most common electrolyte materials in the field. US Patent Application Publication US 2008/0261099 A1 which is assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation suggests that the secret ingredient is scandia stabilized zirconia ScSZ. ScSZ has a higher conductivity than YSZ at lower temperatures which provides greater efficiency and higher reliability when used as an electrolyte in SOFC applications. Scandia is scandium oxide (Sc3O2) which is a very scarce rare earth metal oxide that is sold between US$1400 to US$2000 per kilogram in 99.9% form. Current annual world wide production of scandium is less than 2000 kilogram and most of the 5000 kilogram used annually is sourced from limited former Soviet era stock piles.
To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal alloy plates for electric conductance between the two ceramic fast ion conductor plates. In lower temperature fuel cells, platinum is required at the cathode. More Info at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_Energy_Server
The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates (100mm × 100mm) which are claimed to be made from "beach sand" but are in fact scandia stabilized zirconia ScSZ. Each ceramic plate is coated with a green Nickel oxide[disambiguation needed] -based ink on one side (anode) and another black (probably Lanthanum strontium manganite) ink on the other side (cathode). According to the San Jose Mercury News, "Bloom's secret technology apparently lies in the proprietary green ink that acts as the anode and the black ink that acts as the cathode--" but in fact these materials are widely known in the field of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Wired reports that the secret ingredient may be yttria-stabilized zirconia based upon a 2006 patent filing (7,572,530) that was granted to Bloom in 2009; but this material is also one of the most common electrolyte materials in the field. US Patent Application Publication US 2008/0261099 A1 which is assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation suggests that the secret ingredient is scandia stabilized zirconia ScSZ. ScSZ has a higher conductivity than YSZ at lower temperatures which provides greater efficiency and higher reliability when used as an electrolyte in SOFC applications. Scandia is scandium oxide (Sc3O2) which is a very scarce rare earth metal oxide that is sold between US$1400 to US$2000 per kilogram in 99.9% form. Current annual world wide production of scandium is less than 2000 kilogram and most of the 5000 kilogram used annually is sourced from limited former Soviet era stock piles.
To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal alloy plates for electric conductance between the two ceramic fast ion conductor plates. In lower temperature fuel cells, platinum is required at the cathode. More Info at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_Energy_Server