United Technologies Research Center (UTRC)

United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) is developing an intermediate-temperature fuel cell for residential applications that will combine a building’s heating and power systems into one unit. Existing fuel cell technologies usually focus on operating low temperatures for vehicle technologies or at high temperatures for grid-scale applications. By creating a metal-supported proton conducting fuel cell with a natural gas fuel processor, UTRC could lower the operating system temperatures to under 500 °C. The use of metal offers faster start-up times and the possibility of lower manufacturing costs and additional automation options, while the proton conducting electrolyte offers the potential for higher ionic conductivity at lower temperatures than regular oxygen conducting solid oxide electrolyte materials. An intermediate temperature electrolyte will be used to achieve a lower operating temperature, while a redesigned cell architecture will increase the efficiency and lower the cost of UTRC’s overall system.

If successful, UTRC’s intermediate-temperature fuel cell for residential applications will save energy and emissions by combining the heating and power systems into one unit.