From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
RACINE, WI — Modine Manufacturing Co. is developing fuel-cell components for an underground mining machine being built for the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Racine, Wis.-based company will supply a cooling system for the machine that’s expected to run from a fuel-cell and battery-hybrid engine in tight spaces up to 1,000 feet underground.
Fuel-cell technology is appealing for use in underground mines because, unlike an internal-combustion engine, a fuel cell doesn’t produce deadly gases.
With a fuel cell, a small chemical reactor converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, electricity and heat. The electricity drives a motor that powers a machine or vehicle.
Modine is developing cooling components for the mining machine’s fuel cell, electronics and hydraulic systems.
The prototype machine is largely being built by Caterpillar Inc. and is scheduled to be finished in early 2005. Its first use will be in a Nevada gold mine.
Modine has a small portion of an $8.6 million government contract to build the machine. The company continues to develop fuel-cell components for automakers such as DaimlerChrysler AG and Ford Motor Co., said Mark Baffa, director of the company’s fuel-cell products group.
DaimlerChrysler now has more than 100 fuel-cell vehicles in its test fleet, while Ford will have about 60 by the end of next year, Baffa said.
Copyright 2004 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via ProQuest Information and Learning Co.; All Rights Reserved.
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