Galileo 1000 N is an SOFC-based micro-CHP system for single family homes. This contribution reports on the newest achievements in the lab on efficiency, durability and cyclability of SOFC stacks and complete micro-CHP systems. It also shows results of the field tests. Achievements are total efficiencies of 95% (LHV) and electrical efficiencies of around 35% (AC net, LHV). The longest system test had been running for more than 40 000 h. More recent tests have achieved power degradations below 1% per 1000 h and cycling tests have shown a tolerance against at least 20 on-off cycles. The contribution also reports on the next steps to market introduction of the Galileo 1000 N.

Hexis is developing the micro-CHP SOFC-system Galileo 1000 N. Field tests with the Galileo 1000 N were started and at present 17 systems are installed in the field. Additional 13 systems are installed at Hexis' labs. In a system test with improved cells, an electrical power output of more than 1000 W (AC, net), an electrical efficiency of more than 40% (DC) and 36% (AC, net) could be achieved, while another test showed a total efficiency of more than 90% (LHV). One of the lab systems runs now for more than 15000 h with a power degradation rate of 1.9% per 1000 h. A 5-cell stack with a similar setup is running for more than 15000 h with a voltage degradation of approx. 1% / 1000 h, while a more recent test showed less than 0.5% / 1000 h degradation for 9000 h. In the field, a system has been operated for more than 7200 h until now. It was shown that 5-cell stacks can tolerate more than 12 full redox-cycles.

HEXIS is developing and manufacturing SOFC-based micro-CHP systems for single-family or small multi-family houses. Galileo 1000 N with an output of 1 kW electrical power was brought into the market 2013. Since then, HEXIS together with other members of the Viessmann Group have been developing the next generation of the Viessmann/HEXIS SOFC system. This paper reports the newest results of the short-stack tests, full-scale-stack tests as well as system tests based on the established Galileo systems as well as on our next generation systems. These include results of Galileo tests running close to 25'000 h, electrical efficiencies of the new generation of 40 % AC, net and total efficiencies of 95 % (LHV).

Dimensional micro and nano metrology is gaining enormously in importance with the development and advancement of micro mechanics (e.g., micro gears), micro electronic and mechanical devices (e.g., MEMS, miniaturized sensors), micro optics (e.g., cameras in mobile phones) and nanotechnology (e.g., functional surface layers), but effective and efficient quality control in these fields is hindered today by the lack of powerful, flexible, robust and economic tools for nanometre-resolved 3D metrology. Scanning probe microscopy (e.g., AFM) suffers from small measuring ranges, fragility, a lack of flexibility and usually unsatisfactory metrological properties such as repeatability and linearity. Miniaturized tactile 3D coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) today only deliver very low point rates and are not suitable for measuring surface fine structure due to the characteristics of their probing elements and their dynamic properties. Additionally AFM tips tend to wear and micro CMMs may damage the workpiece. To overcome these limitations a laser-interferometrically controlled 3D nano- positioning and measuring machine (NMM-1) with a measurement range of 25 mm × 25 mm × 5 mm and sub-nanometre positioning resolution has been equipped with a custom made current measuring probing system. The use of electrical probing interaction in the nanoampere order instead of force (tactile probing, AFM) gives much more flexibility for size and shape of the probing element, as gravitational influence and stresses in the probe are not relevant for probing performance. The combined system can be used as a metrological long-range scanning tunnelling microscope, but also as a 3D micro CMM and provides nanometre resolution combined with an outstandingly large measuring range of several millimetres and traceable position measurement via three helium–neon (HeNe) laser interferometers. Results of the experimental set-up show that the combination of laser interferometry and electrical probing can deliver a reproducibility of down to 3 nm at ranges of several millimetres.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) application development is very well represented in Switzerland by two companies. Sulzer Hexis AG is one of the world leaders in the commercialization of SOFC systems for single family houses. A smaller company, HTceramix, is active in novel processing routes for cells and in innovative stack designs. This article first presents the benefits of implementing SOFC in selected applications and markets. Then the current state-of-the-art in stacking is described for both Swiss stack designs, looking at power density, and electrical efficiency. It is remarkable that both stacks currently exhibit a unique characteristic in SOFC design: the absence of side sealing, which permits to significantly simplify the stack assembly and thus improve its reliability. Finally, the two generations of SOFC systems produced by Sulzer Hexis are presented. The HXS 1000 Premiere preseries system is evaluated on the basis of the extended demonstration program currently underway where 110 systems are in operation in single family houses and public buildings. The near-series system is then introduced with respect to the identified needs in reduction of investment and operating costs as well as size and weight.