Case Study: Fuel Cell Micro Grid Operation at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.2047Abstract
The 2004 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in downtown
Boston presented an energy challenge. The large, attendant media pres-
ence required a great deal of additional power for temporary studios,
satellite up-links, etc., that could not be supplied by the constrained elec-
tric utility infrastructure.
To meet this need, an independent micro grid was constructed
consisting of two rail-mounted diesel-generators and a trailer-mounted
fuel cell power plant. The fuel cell was a DFC300 produced by FuelCell
Energy, Inc. The DFC300 is a 250 kW rated power plant, capable of both
grid connected and grid independent operation. The DNC micro grid
represented the first application in which the DFC300 operated in paral-
lel with diesel generators independent of the electric utility grid.
In addition to explaining the fuel cell power plant operating modes,
this article describes the specific planning, challenges and operating re-
sults of the unit in the DNC micro grid. It will also examine the potential
benefits of fuel cells in future micro grid applications
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References
“Overview of Direct Carbonate Fuel Cell Technology and Products De-
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IEEE-1547-2003, “IEEE Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Re-
sources with Electric Power Systems”
“Fuel Cells – The Clean and Efficient Power Generators” Proceedings of
the IEEE, Vol. 89, No. 12, December, 2001
