Bloom Energy Box: Fuel-Free Power Source Explained

[pftest]

Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6228923n
http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/22/bloom-energy-boxes/

I don't understand how it works. You still need fuel to use it, so what problem does it solve?

 

[DavidSnider]

It's a fuel cell. Since the power is generated on-site you recycle the "excess" heat that is generated to do things like warm your house.

 

[pftest]

First he showed a small box, and later he showed a giant one (size of closet). What was the giant thing good for?

 

[pallidin]

First he showed a small box, and later he showed a giant one (size of closet). What was the giant thing good for?

The small box is NOT in production yet. He was just illustrating the hope of the technology to down-size it for home use IN THE FUTURE.
The giant one is already in production. It's targeted for business's that have electrical demands much greater than a home.

 

[russ_watters]

No, the small box is a component of the large box. That was one of the things that set of my crackdar.

 

[chayced]

Hmm...
Small "secretive" company getting publicity. Check
Magic device which is not completely explained. Check
Promises of cheap clean energy. Check
References to NASA and big companies. Check

These things alone set off my alarms.

Since there are a number of companies claiming to use the technology and getting cost savings it probably works. There may still be smoke and mirrors inside the magic box. There may be a secondary fuel source which is inside the box and replaced during "maintenance". Without seeing an actual box in action and then being able to disassemble it there is no way of knowing for sure that this technology is legit.

Assuming it does do what they claim, how much does it currently cost to manufacture? If it costs 2mil to manufacture and they are selling them at a significant loss they may never reach the break even point for real consumers. Fuel cells have been around for years, but are always prohibitively expensive.

Assuming the cost can be brought down to levels consumers will pay, how long will they last? Fuel cells become fouled from impure fuel and oxygen. If these things last 5 years and then need a complete overhaul, then that has to be factored into the price.

I'm hopeful about this, but I've seen a lot of these companies suck up investors money then disappear. EEStor for example is still claiming their super-capacitor is just on the horizon. Many solar companies are claiming to have shattered the $1 per watt price and are just waiting for mass production. Even with a functional product bringing the price down to marketable levels is not assured. Guess I'll just wait and see.

 

[story645]

My professor seems to think this thing is valid enough to make it a question on a quiz. insert(rant)

 

[mheslep]

It's a fuel cell. Since the power is generated on-site you recycle the "excess" heat that is generated to do things like warm your house.

Some do, not this one. The Bloom doesn't do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogeneration" . The energy output is all electric.

 

[mheslep]

Also see this thread
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=380515&highlight=bloom