Utilizing a Fuel Cell as a Primary Power Source for a Hospital

By the end of this activity you will be able to:

1. Determine the appropriate resources, processes, and priorities for an innovative design process

2. Develop a successful business unit for an innovative facilities design Fuel cell systems have been installed all over the world in hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, offices, buildings, schools, and utility power plants. Stationary fuel cells have been used for power sources at hospitals. They are either connected to the electric grid to provide supplemental power and backup assurance for critical areas, or installed as grid-independent generators in areas that are inaccessible by power lines. Assume you are an architectural engineering firm that has a niche in hospital design; and have been awarded a contract for a hospital that uses a fuel cell as a grid-independent generator. The company does not have experience in hospital design that is not connected to an electrical grid What talent should the team consist of, and how does it differ from teams with a traditional supplemental/backup power supply?

Guiding Questions to Consider Prior to the Discussion

1. What types of engineering, architectural, and management resources are used in the mechanical, electrical and structural/civil aspects of hospital design?

2. What types of additional talent or specialized engineering knowledge is needed when utilizing a fuel cell as the primary source of power for a hospital?

3. What is different about the engineering design process?

4. How do the priorities differ from a project with a traditional electric power supply?

5. What kind of functional team should be formed?

Read R I-6, Assessing Your Organization's Capabilities: Resources, Processes, and Priorities.

Determine the business unit needed for successful design of the hospital with the independent

fuel cell power source, addressing the questions posed under Guiding Questions

Post your response (250-300 word minimum) to the Discussion Board.

Compose your work using a word processor and save it frequently to your computer. When you are ready to make your initial posting, please click on the "Create Thread" button and enter a relevant subject line. Then copy/paste the text, which you have grammar and spell checked, from your Word document into the message field and click Submit. Your initial posting should be no more than one typed page in length. Then, reply to the postings of class members. You may agree or disagree, but you need to support your statements with facts, experience, information and/or references.

Review the SBT Discussion Rubric located in the section of the course for more information on grading criteria.