COLUMBUS, Ohio—Rapid prototyping, manufacturing and product development company Laser Reproductions recently collaborated with NexTech Materials Ltd. and Plug Power Inc. to develop a prototype for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power system.
Laser Reproductions created the prototype using the stereolithography process from a 3-D concept drawing provided by NexTech. The model was finished, prepped and painted in Laser Reproductions’ in-house model development lab.
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) convert fuel and air into electricity and heat through clean, electrochemical methods. These highly efficient fuel cells give off limited amounts of pollution compared to contemporary mechanical power generation techniques.
To create the prototype, Laser Reproductions incorporated a uniform color scheme, provided by NexTech, which was represented in the layers of the production fuel cell. The prototype was completed in one week and will be used by NexTech and Plug Power in demonstrations, presentations, photos and press opportunities.
Once in production, the SOFC power system will offer performance advantages for power applications where the use of regularly available fuels is required. The system has been proven to produce power at the highest efficiency of any fuel cell and can operate on natural gas or propane.
The target market for the system is the U.S. military, particularly U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Army applications. Other potential markets include, wireless communications and commercial stationary backup power applications.
NexTech, a ceramic materials and components developer, has developed proprietary, high volume processes to manufacture the active components of SOFCs. The company was founded in 1994 and is located in Lewis Center, Ohio. Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a fuel cell technology company, is located in Latham, New York.
NexTech received funding for the project through the Ohio Department of Development from Ohio’s Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program (TFFCP). TFFCP is a 10-year, $1.6 billion, state-launched initiative, administered by the Third Frontier Commission, to expand Ohio’s high-tech research capabilities and promote innovation.