Power source
20 Apr 2004
Dutch chemical major Akzo Nobel is investigating the feasibility of powering a chlorine electrolysis plant using fuel cells.
Working with polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell specialist NedStack, based in Arnhem, the company has embarked on a three-year project to determine whether it is feasible to build a fuel-cell power plant.
NedStack is an Akzo Nobel spin-off - it was formed in 1998 to develop the company's PEM research. The two companies have now joined forces again for the feasibility study. If built, the fuel cell plant would be sited next to an existing chlorine electrolysis plant at Botlek in the Netherlands, and would have a maximum generating capacity of 200MW.
The advantages of such the plant would be twofold, Akzo Nobel says. 'It is expected that the application of fuel cell technology in the production of chlorine could yield electrical power savings of approximately 20%,' it claims. 'In addition, an important environmental gain will be achieved by limiting undesirable emissions.'
