Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Hydrogen-based fuel cell'

Thesis (M.S.Ch.E.)--University of Toledo, 2007.
Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering." Bibliography: leaves 72-77.

Fuel cells are device capable to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. During the last decade fuel cell market had an expansion in specific market niches, such as automotive and backup power. My research activity was related to the development of fuel cell based power system for backup in telecommunication applications. Several installations done in the last years demonstrated that the technology can be used and features many advantages with respect to conventional battery uninterruptible power supply and diesel generators, related to cost reduction, availability and durability. The market of telecommunication equipment is continuously expanding, in particular in Asian markets, where the business of mobile phones is ramping up quickly. Many new sites are located in remote areas, where the main distribution of electrical energy is not available. The solution to power those sites involves renewable energy sources, that are often instable and with a low availability. Solutions for local energy accumulation are mandatory to perform power peak shaving and power backup. The same approach can be used to improve the robustness of smart grid applications, where the power is generated locally, in a number of small and distributed energy sources, and delivered to the network. Hydrogen can be used as energy carrier and as energy storage to power sites when the energy produced by renewable sources is less than the amount required by the load. The thesis explores the design of a power system, a device capable to generate hydrogen and store the compressed gas from renewable sources and to use the gas to generate electrical energy to supply the load.

Le sujet de thèse proposé concerne l’étude, l'intégration et le comportement fréquentiel d'un convertisseur statique DC/DC à base d’interrupteurs de puissance en GaN (HEMT EPC/Infineon) couplé à une pile à hydrogène intégrant des fonctionnalités avancées de diagnostic des performances de la cellule. L'étude de la compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) de l'ensemble convertisseur statique couplé à une pile à hydrogène vise à obtenir l'analyse fréquentielle de l'ensemble sachant que dans un contexte d'intégration, les inductances et capacités parasites peuvent perturber le fonctionnement du système. Il sera intéressant de vérifier que des phénomènes électromagnétiques ne perturbent pas les mesures nécessaires au pilotage et au diagnostic. Une étude théorique des perturbations conduites générées dans le cadre des exigences CEM ainsi qu'un prototype de convertisseur statique fortement intégré sur une pile à hydrogène de 500W seront réalisés. La chambre réverbérante à brassage de modes CRBM ainsi que des réseaux de couplage seront utilisés pour évaluer les émissions électromagnétiques rayonnées et conduites du convertisseur statique développé pour vérifier sa conformité à la Directive CEM 2014/30/UE
The proposed thesis topic concerns the study, integration, and frequency behavior of a DC/DC static converter based on GaN (HEMT EPC/Infineon) power switches coupled with a hydrogen fuel cell, which incorporates advanced performance diagnostics features. The study of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the entire static converter coupled with a hydrogen fuel cell aims to conduct a frequency analysis of the system, considering that in an integrated context, parasitic inductances and capacitances may disturb the system's operation. It will be important to verify that electromagnetic phenomena do not interfere with the measurements necessary for control and diagnostics. A theoretical study of the conducted disturbances generated in compliance with EMC requirements will be carried out, along with the development of a highly integrated static converter prototype on a 500W hydrogen fuel cell. A mode-stirred reverberation chamber (MSRC) and coupling networks will be used to evaluate the radiated and conducted electromagnetic emissions of the developed static converter to ensure its compliance with the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU

Thesis (Honors)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formattted into pages: contains [55] p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references. Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.

Quel cadre économique et réglementaire à long terme (2030-50) pour soutenir la transition énergétique des carburants fossiles vers l’hydrogène dans le secteur européen des transports ? Cette recherche combine les approches théoriques et empiriques pour répondre aux trois questions suivantes :1. Comment concevoir des politiques de soutien adaptées pour pallier les imperfections de marché lors du déploiement de technologies de mobilité hydrogène ?2. Comment modéliser les coûts d’abattement en tenant compte des effets d’apprentissage (LBD) ?3. Comment définir la trajectoire optimale de déploiement quand le LBD et la convexité des coûts d’investissement sont présents ?L’article ‘Transition vers un Système de Transport de Passagers à Hydrogène : Analyse Politique Comparée’ passe au crible des politique de soutien destinées à résoudre les imperfections de marché dans le déploiement de la mobilité hydrogène. L’article effectue une comparaison internationale entre les instruments en faveur du déploiement des véhicules. Les indicateurs ex post d’efficacité des politiques sont développés et calculés pour classifier les pays selon leur volontarisme dans la promotion des véhicules à piles à combustible (FCEV). Aujourd’hui le Japon et le Danemark apparaissent comme les meilleurs fournisseurs d’un environnement favorable au déploiement de la mobilité hydrogène. Les autorités locales introduisent de solides instruments prix (tels que des subventions et des exemptions fiscales) pour rendre le FCEV plus attractif par rapport à son analogue à essence et coordonnent le déploiement de l’infrastructure hydrogène sur le territoire.L’article ‘Modélisation des Coûts d’Abattement en Présence d’Effets d’Apprentissage : le Cas du Véhicule à Hydrogène’ présente un modèle de transition du secteur des transports d’un état polluant à un état propre. Un modèle d’équilibre partiel est développé pour un secteur automobile de taille constante. L’optimum social est atteint en minimisant le coût de la transition du parc automobile au cours du temps. Ce coût comprend les coûts privés de production des véhicules décarbonés (sujets aux effets d’apprentissage) ainsi que le coût social des émissions de CO2 qui suit une tendance haussière exogène. L’article caractérise la trajectoire optimale qui est un remplacement progressif des véhicules polluants par les décarbonés. Au cours de la transition, l’égalisation des coûts marginaux tient compte de l’impact des actions présentes sur les coûts futurs via l’effet d’apprentissage. L’article décrit aussi une trajectoire sous-optimale où la trajectoire de déploiement serait une donnée exogène : quelle serait alors la date optimale de début de la transition ? L’article présente une évaluation quantitative de la substitution des FCEV aux véhicules à combustion interne (ICE). L’analyse conclut que le FCEV deviendra une option économiquement viable pour décarboner une partie du parc automobile allemand à l’horizon 2050 dès que le prix du carbone atteindra 50-60€/t.L’article ‘Le rôle des Effets d’Apprentissage dans l’Adoption d’une Technologie Verte : le Cas LBD Linéaire’ étudie les caractéristiques d’une trajectoire optimale de déploiement des véhicules décarbonés dans le cas où les effets d’apprentissage et la convexité sont présents dans la fonction de coût. Le modèle d’équilibre partiel de Creti et. al (2015) est utilisé comme point de départ. Dans le cas LBD linéaire la trajectoire de déploiement optimale est obtenue analytiquement. Un apprentissage fort induit une transition antérieure vers les véhicules verts dans le cas d’une convexité faible et une transition ultérieure dans le cas d’une convexité forte. Ce résultat permet de revisiter le projet H2 Mobility en Allemagne. Un effet d’apprentissage plus fort et une accélération du déploiement aboutissent à une transition moins coûteuse et une période de cash flow négatif plus courte
What economic and policy framework would foster a transition in the European transport sector from fossil fuels to hydrogen in the long term (2030-50)? This research combines empirical and theoretical approaches and aims to answers the following questions:1. How to design appropriate policy instruments to solve inefficiencies in hydrogen mobility deployment?2. How to define abatement cost and an optimal launching date in the presence of learning-by-doing (LBD)?3. How to define an optimal deployment trajectory in presence of LBD and convexity in investment costs?The paper ‘Transition Towards a Hydrogen-Based Passenger Car Transport: Comparative Policy Analysis‘ draws a cross-country comparison between policy instruments that support the deployment of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The existing policy framework in favour of FCEV and hydrogen infrastructure deployment is analysed. A set of complementary ex-post policy efficiency indicators is developed and calculated to rank the most active countries, supporters of FCEV. Denmark and Japan emerge as the best providers of favourable conditions for the hydrogen mobility deployment: local authorities put in place price-based incentives (such as subsidies and tax exemptions) making FCEV more financially attractive than its gasoline substitute, and coordinate ramping-up of their hydrogen infrastructure nationally.The paper ’Defining the Abatement Cost in Presence of Learning-by-doing: Application to the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle’ models the transition of the transport sector from a pollutant state to a clean one. A partial equilibrium model is developed for a car sector of a constant size. In this model the objective of the social planner is to minimize the cost of phasing out a stock of polluting cars from the market over time. The cost includes the private cost of green cars production, which are subject to LBD, and the social cost of carbon, which has an exogenous upward trend. During the transition, the equalization of marginal costs takes into account the fact that the current action has an impact on future costs through LBD. This paper also describes a suboptimal plan: if the deployment trajectory is exogenously given, what is the optimal starting date for the transition? The paper provides a quantitative assessment of the FCEV case for the substitution of the mature Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. The analysis concludes that the CO2 price should reach 53€/t for the program to start and for FCEV to be a socially beneficial alternative for decarbonizing part of the projected German car park in the 2050 time frame.The impact of LBD on the timing and costs of emission abatement is, however, ambiguous. On the one hand, LBD supposes delaying abatement activities because of cost reduction of future abatement due to LBD. On the other hand, LBD supposes starting the transition earlier because of cost reduction due to added value to cumulative experience. The paper ‘The Role of Learning-by-Doing in the Adoption of a Green Technology: the Case of Linear LBD’ studies the optimal characteristics of a transition towards green vehicles in the transport sector when both LBD and convexity are present in the cost function. The partial equilibrium model of (Creti et al., 2015) is used as a starting point. For the case of linear LBD the deployment trajectory can be analytically obtained. This allows to conclude that a high learning induces an earlier switch towards green cars in the case of low convexity, and a later switch in the case of high convexity. This insight is used to revisit the hydrogen mobility project in Germany. A high learning lowers the corresponding deployment cost and reduces deepness and duration of the, investment ‘death valley’ (period of negative project’s cash flow). An acceleration of exogenously defined scenario for FCEV deployment, based on the industry forecast, would be beneficial to reduce the associated transition cost

Construed bachelor work features into problems hydrogen fuel articles and survey on low-temperature fuell elements with polymeric electrolyte (PEMFC). Basic sight work is study feature catalyzers on base MnOx on real fuel cell type PEMFC. Exit are then measured characteristic this way creation fuel cell.

Hybrid fuel-cell-based propulsion systems have the potential to transform the use of small electric powered unmanned aircraft. Offering the possibility of greatly increased flight endurance and range over existing battery systems, hybrid systems also overcome some of the limitations inherent with fuel cell only systems such as low specific power and comparatively slow dynamic response. However, although there have been many fuel-cell/battery hybrid systems developed for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propulsion, alternative power storage devices such as supercapacitors have not been adequately explored. Supercapacitors are fast acting with a high specific power and cycle lifetime, making them ideal candidates for use in a fuel cell hybrid system. This research develops and evaluates the use of hybrid fuel cell propulsion systems incorporating supercapacitors in the overall hybrid architecture. First, the performance of supercapacitors is evaluated and compared with the performance of fuel cells and batteries to enable an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the different energy sources. Next, the integration of supercapacitors with fuel cells is performed in a robust and efficient manner that ensures the hybrid system architecture maximises the benefits inherent in each of the power sources. A comparison is made between fuel-cell/battery, fuel-cell/supercapacitor, and fuel-cell/battery/supercapacitor hybrids for a UAV propulsion application through hardware-in-the-loop simulation. Finally, flight testing of a fuel-cell-based triple hybrid in a small UAV is performed to validate the operation and performance of the power system.

Las pilas de combustible son muy ventajosas debido a su alta eficiencia en la conversión de energía y nula contaminación. En esta tesis se realiza un extenso estudio sobre el control y diseño de sistemas de generación eléctrica basados en pilas de combustible. El núcleo principal de la misma son los sistemas híbridos con pilas de combustible y supercapacitores como elementos almacenadores de energía, orientado a aplicaciones automotrices. La determinación del Grado de Hibridización (i.e. la determinación del tamaño de la pila de combustible y del número de supercapacitores) se realiza mediante una metodología propuesta con el objetivo de satisfacer requisitos de conductibilidad y consumiendo la menor cantidad de hidrógeno posible.

El proceso de diseño comienza con la determinación de la estructura eléctrica de generación del vehículo y utiliza un modelo detallado realizado en ADVISOR, una herramienta para modelado y estudio de sistemas híbridos. Se analiza el flujo de energía a través de los componentes del vehículo cuando el vehículo sigue diferentes ciclos de conducción estándares, mostrando las pérdidas en cada componente que degradan la eficiencia del sistema y limitan la recuperación de energía de frenado. Con respecto a la recuperación de energía, se ha definido y analizado un parámetro que cuantifica la cantidad de energía que realmente es reaprovechada: el ratio frenado/hidrógeno.

Para controlar el flujo de energía entre la pila de combustible, los almacenadores de energía y la carga eléctrica, se proponen tres Estrategias de Gestión de Energía (EMS) para Vehículos Híbridos con Pila de Combustible (FCHVs) basadas en el mapa de eficiencia de la pila y se validan mediante un montaje experimental desarrollado para emular el sistema híbrido. Los resultados de consumo de hidrógeno son comparados con dos referencias: el consumo correspondiente al caso del vehículo sin hibridización y el caso óptimo con el menor consumo para el vehículo propuesto. El consumo óptimo se calcula mediante una metodología propuesta que, a diferencia de otras, evita la discretización de las variables de estado.

Para operar el sistema eficientemente, la pila de combustible es controlada mediante una metodología de control, basada en Control de Matriz Dinámica (DMC). Esta metodología de control utiliza como variables de control el voltaje de compresor y una nueva variable propuesta: la apertura de una válvula proporcional ubicada a la salida del cátodo. Los objetivos de control son controlar el exceso de oxígeno en el cátodo y el voltaje generado por la pila. Se analiza tanto en régimen estacionario como transitorio las ventajas de emplear esta nueva variable de control y se muestran resultados de funcionamiento por simulación del controlador ante perturbaciones en la corriente de carga.

Por otro lado, se aborda el diagnóstico y el control tolerante a fallos del sistema basado en pila de combustible proponiendo una metodología de diagnóstico basada en las sensibilidades relativas de los fallos y se muestra que la estructura de control con las dos variables propuestas tiene buena capacidad de rechazo a fallos en el compresor cuando se controla el exceso de oxígeno en el cátodo.
The use of fuel cell systems based on hydrogen is advantageous because of their high efficiency in the energy conversion and null emissions. In this thesis, an extensive study about the control and design of electrical generation systems based on fuel cells is performed. The main focus is in hybrid systems composed of fuel cells and supercapacitors as energy storage elements, oriented to automotive applications. The determination of the hybridization degree (i.e. the determination of the fuel cell size and the number of supercapacitors) is performed through a proposed methodology with the objective to fulfil the conductibility requirements and to consume the lowest amount of hydrogen.

The process of design starts with the determination of the electrical structure and utilizes a detail model developed using ADVISOR, a MATLAB toolbox for modelling and studying hybrid vehicles. The energy flow between the vehicle components is analyzed when the vehicle is tested with different Standard Driving Cycles, showing how the losses in each component degrade the efficiency of the system and limit the energy recovery from braking.

With regard to the energy recovery, a parameter to quantify the amount of energy that is actually reused is defined and analyzed: the braking/hydrogen ratio.
To control the energy flow between the fuel cell, the energy storage system, and the electrical load in Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles (FCHVs), three Energy Management Strategies (EMSs) based on the fuel cell efficiency map are presented and validated through an experimental setup, which is developed to emulate the FCHV. The resulting hydrogen consumptions are compared with two references: the consumption of the pure fuel cell case, a vehicle without hybridization, and the optimal case with the minimum consumption. The optimal consumption for a given vehicle is determined through a methodology proposed that, unlike other previous methodologies, avoids the discretization of the state variables.

To operate the fuel cell system efficiently, the system is controlled through a proposed control technique, which is based on Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC). This control technique utilizes the compressor voltage as control variable and also a new proposed variable: the opening area of a proportional valve at the cathode outlet. The control objectives are the control of the oxygen excess ratio at the cathode and the fuel cell voltage. The advantages of this new control variable are analyzed both in steady state and transient state. Simulation results show and adequate performance of the controller when a series of step changes in the load current is applied.

On the other hand, the diagnosis and fault-tolerant control of the fuel cell-based system is approached. A diagnosis methodology based on the relative fault sensitivity is proposed. The performance of the methodology to detect and isolate a set of proposed failures is analyzed and simulation results in an environment developed to include the set of faults are given. The fault-tolerant control is approached showing that the proposed control structure with two control variables has good capability against faults in the compressor when the oxygen excess ratio in the cathode is controlled.

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
Hydrogen is widely regarded as the clean energy carrier for future use in both transportation and electricity sectors. It has become an important new focus as an alternative fuel for cleaner energy technologies especially in the Polymer Exchange Membranes (PEM) fuel cells. However, specific technical and marketing demands must be met by a fuel processor for ultra-pure hydrogen production and at a very competitive cost. Liquid Petroleum gas (LPG) is seen as a potential source for low cost hydrogen production due to its relatively high energy density, easy storage and well-established infrastructure for fuel. There is a growing interest in the use of membrane in reaction engineering with the selective separation of the products from the reaction mixture provided opportunities to achieve higher conversion. Membrane separation technologies have potential to reduce operating costs, minimise unit operations and lower energy consumption. The overall goal of this project is to investigate the engineering feasibility associated performance of employing a palladium or palladium alloy membrane reactor for the production of ultra-pure hydrogen from the products of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pre-reformer in determining the optimal process conditions for the production of high purity hydrogen from the LPG feedstock and evaluating of the performance of a Pd-based membrane in relation to maximizing the yield of hydrogen from the feedstock as well as minimizing the CO content of the reformate.

Fuel cell is a device that can directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. For low-temperature fuel cells, catalysts are required. Fuel cells using Pt-based or other non-biological materials as catalysts are known as conventional fuel cells. Inspired from Nature, enzymes can be used as catalysts in fuel cells known as enzyme-based fuel cells. The conventional and enzymatic fuel cells share the same underlying electrochemical principles, while enzyme-based fuel cells have their intrinsic advantages and disadvantages due to enzyme properties. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the current/voltage/ power/stability capabilities of enzyme-based membrane-less H2 fuel cells in order to design the enzymatic fuel cells with improved performance. This thesis presents a facile, effective method for the construction of 3D porous carbon electrodes. The 3D porous carbon electrodes are constructed by compacting suitable carbon nanomaterials into discs. The 3D porous carbon electrodes, with large roughness, high specific surface area, and optimized pore size distribution, are able to increase the loading density of enzymes, that is, reaction sites per unit geometric electrode area. The high loading density of enzymes can result in the high current/power density of the enzyme-based membrane-less H2 fuel cells. Moreover, the large enzyme loading can bring about the improvement in fuel cell stability because current becomes limited by mass transport of dissolved gases rather than enzyme immobilization so that neither inactivation nor desorption of enzymes would influence the current output. Based on one type of 3D porous carbon electrodes, the maximum power density of enzyme-based membrane-less H2 fuel cells has increased to the mW•cm2 level by at least one order of magnitude and the half-life has also increased from several hours to one week. This thesis presents a method for the increase in power density otherwise limited by low cathodic currents due to meagre O2 in non-explosive H2-rich H2-air mixtures. The power density of enzyme-based membrane-less H2 fuel cells can be increased by re-proportioning cathode/anode geometric area ratio to balance the cathodic and anodic currents under such an unusual H2-air mixture. This thesis also demonstrates that the 3D porous carbon electrode can improve the apparent O2 tolerance of anodic catalysts – hydrogenases, which are very important for the fuel cell performance. The degrees of apparent O2 tolerance for both O2-tolerant and O2-sensitive [NiFe]-hydrogenases are greatly increased based on the 3D porous carbon electrodes, so that even an O2-sensitive [NiFe]-hydrogenase can be used as an anodic catalyst in the enzyme-based membrane-less H2 fuel cell under a non-explosive H2-rich H2-air mixture. This thesis presents a design of a test bed in which series and parallel connections of sandwich-like electrode stacks can be varied. The fuel cell test bed has demonstrated low-loss interconnects and efficient stack configuration. Operated under a non-explosive H2-air mixture containing only 4.6% O2 at 20 °C, the maximum volume power density of the fuel cell test bed exceeds 2 mW•cm3, capable of powering electronic gadgets, which is a good demonstration of electricity that originates from the buried active sites of enzymes and is transmitted by long-range electron hopping in accordance with Marcus theory.

Improving the efficiency and performance of vehicle propulsion systems has always been desirable, and with increasing environmental awareness this has become increasingly topical. A particularly strong focus today is at fossil-free alternatives, and there is a strong trend for electrification. Hybrid powertrains of different types can bring benefits in certain aspects, and there is a lot of research and development involved in the making of a new powertrain. In this thesis, a complete powertrain for a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle is modeled, with the intention of contributing to this trend. The model can be used to investigate design choices and their impact on energy consumption. A component-based library is developed, with the purpose of being easy to implement for different configurations. The results show that it is possible to assemble and simulate a complete hybrid drivetrain, using the modeled components, while not being very computationally heavy. The developed models correspond well with reality while being modular and easy to implement.

Two thin film materials - intermetallic and porous silicon thin films, have been studied in this thesis. The first part focuses on the hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties of single layer LaNi5-based thin films fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The aim is to enhance their performance in mini hydrogen storage systems, and their application as electrodes in thin film Ni-MH micro-batteries. Such LaNi5-based thin films were fabricated by magnetron puttering. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), these thin films revealed a crystalline structure with uniform chemical composition. Using AFM, SEM and TEM, they were found to have a unique microstructure: (1) Nanopores of approximately 15-40 nm which could possibly act as hydrogen reservoir (2) A dense, defect free cross sectional region which would ultimately improve the efficiency and lifetime of the thin film electrodes used in thin film battery. The hydrogen absorption/desorption behaviour of these thin films were determined by volumetric method. The maximum hydrogen content of the La-Ni-A1 film was found to be 1.45 wt% at 333 K which was very close to the theoretical capacity of 1.47 wt%; and higher than that of the La-Ni-AI powder materials (1.2 wt%). Electrochemical properties of the films were measured by simulated battery tests. When discharged at low current, the discharge capacity of the film was similar to that of powder materials - about 220 mAh/g for the first 30 cycles. When the thin film electrode was discharged at a high rate, 4C (current density of 100 mA/g), it could reach the maximum specific capacity of 200 mAh/g and maintained this capacity for 200 cycles; the value was not attainable for La-Ni-AI powder electrode. The presence of crack propagation in film during charge/discharge cycles would improve the electrochemical performance which was different to that of powder materials. Cyclic voltammetry reported that the efficiency of the film could maintain at 80% for the first 200 cycles and gradually decreased due to the formation of corrosion products on surface, which is consistent with the galvanostatic results. XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) revealed that the corrosion products ??? A1203, La203 and La(OH)3 formed on the film surface after cyclic voltammetry. The second part reported the hydrogen absorption/desorption behaviour of porous silicon thin films. The hydrogen content was determined quantitatively by both volumetric method and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and found to be 15 wt% at 423 K under 15 atm of hydrogen pressure. This is an extraordinary amount of hydrogen absorption which supersedes the US Department of Energy's 2007 target of 6.5 wt%. Hydrogen depth profiles of the film after hydrogenation performed by Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy confirmed there was hydrogen within the film structure, this was an indication that hydrogen was not just physisorbed on the film surface, but chemisorbed into the porous Si lattice. X-ray diffraction found that there was a lattice contraction upon hydrogen insertion, again suggesting the hydrogen entered into the film structure by chemisorption.

Master's thesis deals with new methods of preparing catalytic materials for positive electrode of an oxygen-hydrogen fuel cell and the influence of potassium permanganate or doping agent molar mass change on theirs attributes. Further it studies the use of proper measuring methods designed to qualify theirs attributes and the presentation of achieved results. In particular methods of linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry and the processing of data using Koutecky-Levich and Tafel plot and wave log analysis. Values of half-wave and onset potential and kinetic coefficient have been measured and calculated.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
化學工程系
95
Silicon bipolar plates can be successfully fabricated by using lithography process and sputtering technique in this experiment. The cell performance was investigated by varying oxygen flow rate, hydrogen flow rate and cell operation temperature. Wet-etching was successfully used to fabricate micro-bipolar plates in this experiment. The length of bipolar plates is 3 cm and the width is 2 cm.The flow channel width is 1 mm and the active area is 1.42 cm2.The resistivity of copper film was measured by Four-Point Probe method and deposition parameters which the leaded to the lowest copper film resistivity was chosen to deposit copper film.The 50 sccm oxygen flow rate and the 225 sccm hydrogen flow rate had the best cell performance.By varying operation temperature from 50 to 80 oC, the cell had the best performance at the 65 oC and its maximum power density was 55.9 mW/cm2.

The University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) is a student team that designs and builds vehicles with advanced powertrains. UWAFT uses alternatives to fossil fuels because of their lower environmental impacts and the finite nature of oil resources. UWAFT participated in the EcoCAR Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) from 2008 to 2011. The team designed and built a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FC-PHEV) and placed 3rd out of 16 universities from across North America. UWAFT design projects offer students a unique opportunity to advance and augment their core engineering knowledge with hands-on learning in a project-based environment. The design of thermal management systems for powertrain components is a case study for design engineering which requires solving open ended problems, and is a topic that is of growing importance in undergraduate engineering courses. Students participating in this design project learn to develop strategies to overcome uncertainty and to evaluate and execute designs that are not as straightforward as those in a textbook. Electrical and control system projects require students to introduce considerations for reliability and robustness into their design processes that typically only focus on performance and function, and to make decisions that balance these considerations in an environment where these criteria impact the successful outcome of the project. The consequences of a failure or unreliable design also have serious safety implications, particularly in the implementation of powertrain controls. Students integrate safety into every step of control system design, using tools to identify and link together component failures and vehicle faults, to design detection and mitigation strategies for safety-critical failures, and to validate these strategies in real-time simulations. Student teams have the opportunity to offer a rich learning environment for undergraduate engineering students. The design projects and resources that they provide can significantly advance student knowledge, experience, and skills in a way that complements the technical knowledge gained in the classroom. Finding ways to provide these experiences to more undergraduate students, either outside or within existing core courses, has the potential to enhance the value of program graduates.

This dissertation describes the design and characterization of a lightweight hydrogen reactor coupled to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for portable power delivery. The system is intended to recharge portable batteries in the absence of an established electrical power supply. The presented work can be divided into two endeavors; the first being an investigation of various hydrogen generation pathways and the second being the design, fabrication, and testing of a system to house hydrogen generation and deliver electrical power.

Two hydrogen storage materials are considered for this work: ammonia borane and sodium borohydride. Organic acids are investigated for their ability to accelerate the hydrolysis of either material and generate hydrogen on-demand. In the case of ammonia borane, organic acids are investigated for a secondary role beyond reaction acceleration, serving also to purify the gas stream by capturing the ammonia that is produced during hydrolysis. Organic acids are found to accelerate the hydrolysis of ammonia borane and sodium borohydride with relative indifference towards the purity of water being used. This is advantageous as it allows the user to collect water at the point of use rather than transport highly pure water for use as a reactant. Collecting water at the point of use increases system energy density as only ammonia borane or sodium borohydride and an organic acid are transported with the system hardware.

A custom hydrogen reactor is developed to facilitate hydrolysis of ammonia borane or sodium borohydride. The reactor is paired with a fuel cell to generate electrical power. The rate of hydrogen being generated by the system is modulated to match the fuel cell’s consumption rate and maintain a relatively constant pressure inside the reactor. This allows the system to satisfy a wide range of hydrogen consumption rates without risking over pressurization. The system is shown to produce up to 0.5 sLpm of hydrogen without exceeding 30 psia of hydrogen pressure or a temperature rise greater than 35°C.

The envisioned use for this system is portable battery charging for expeditionary forces within the United States military. This application informed several design choices and is considered when evaluating technological maturation. It is also used to compare the designed system to existing energy storage technologies.

碩士
國立臺北科技大學
車輛工程系所
101
To improve the driving range, the study presents a dual power system consisted of 54V/24Ah Li-MnO2 battery and 100W hydrogen fuel cell which is additional installed for range extender. We present two power management strategies that limit speed and acceleration capability. Finally we use ECE40 cycle to validate these two way can upgrade the range of the system. Speed lamination way could add 6 km .The maximum of speed are 50km/h、40km/h、30km/h when SOC (State of Charge) are 60-100%、40-60% and 0-40%，the power of depletion from 2188W to 1270W decline margin is 42%. Acceleration capability lamination could add 0.925 km. When SOC are 60-100%、40-60% 、20-40%、0-20% the energy are 5.9kWh、5.59kWh、5.14kWh、4.55kWh. Compare these two ways speed lamination has 16.91% and acceleration capability lamination has 2.9% range extender effect.

碩士
和春技術學院
電機工程研究所
99
Abstract If customers want to restrain peak load, it would be a feasible solution of fuel cell power generation. Compared to other renewable energy power generation, which of all be subject to natural causes, for example, wind power generation only limit to generate power in wind field, while solar energy needs sunshine. Therefore, this article choosing fuel cell power generation is based on efficient fuel cell and fast operation speed, and power generation only with hydrogen fuel. As for the whole year’s electricity utilization of important industrial customers, after estimating the restrain proportion, it could use fuel cell to restrict power generation. Fuel cell uses high wattage fuel cell power generation equipment which is directly based on hydrogen, it needs hydrogen-storage tank saving hydrogen and hydrogen generator, and then be served with RO water to make hydrogen. We have to estimate the capacity of fuel cell power generation with all restrained indexes, further analyze the capacity of optimum hydrogen generator and the capacity of optimum hydrogen-storage tank which could meet cell power generation needs. Moreover, we should analyze the optimum contract capacity before and after restricting peak load with all indexes, then analyze flow power rate with all indexes, finally decide which way is more economic of applying two-step electricity price or three-step electricity price . The result of this study will help to find the optimum point of the request equipment capacity when customers using fuel cell to restrict peak load and the derivation of optimum contract capacity after using fuel cell power generation to restrict peak load .

Thesis (M. Sc. (Chemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017.
In order to meet the great demand of energy supply globally, there must be a transition from dependency on fossil fuel as a primary energy source to renewable source. This can be attained by use of hydrogen gas as an energy carrier. In the context of hydrogen fuel cell economy, an effective hydrogen generation is of crucial significant. Hydrogen gas can be produced from different methods such as steam reforming of fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases during production and from readily available and renewable resources in the process of water electrolysis. Hydrogen generated from water splitting using solar energy (photocatalysis) or electric energy (electrocatalysis) has attracted most researchers recently due to clean hydrogen (without emission of greenhouse gases) attained during hydrogen production. In comparison with photocatalytic water splitting directly using solar energy, which is ideal but the relevant technologies are not yet commercialized, electrolysis of water using catalyst is more practical at the current stage. The platinum group noble metals (PGMs) are the most effecting electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) but their scarcity and high cost limit their application. In this study, we presented the noble metal free organic-inorganic hybrid composites and their HER electrocatalysis performances were investigated. Polyaniline-metal organic framework (PANI/MOF) composite was prepared by chemical oxidation of aniline monomer in the presence of MOF content for hydrogen production. The properties of PANI, MOF and PANI/MOF composite were characterised for their structure and properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), square wave (SWV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). There was a clear interaction of MOF on the backbone of the PANI matrix through electrostatic interaction as investigated by both Raman and FTIR. The MOF exhibited irregular crystals with further wrapping of MOF by PANI matrix as evidenced by both SEM and TEM analyses. The PANI composite exhibited some nanorods and microporous structure. x The determined energy band gap of the composite was in good agreement with previously reported catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The thermal stability of PANI increased upon addition of MOF. Experiments probing the electrochemical, HER and photophysical properties revealed that the composite was very stable and robust with significant improvement in properties. The resulting composite is a promising low-cost and environmentally friendly hydrogen production material. In this work we also reported about novel poly (3-aminobenzoic acid)-metal organic framework referred as PABA/MOF composite. Spectroscopic characterisations (UV-vis and FTIR) with support of XRD and TGA revealed a successful interaction between PABA and MOF. Morphological characterisation established that PABA is wrapping MOF and the amorphous nature of the materials were not affected. The catalytic effect of PABA and PABA/MOF composites on HER was studied using exchange current density and charge transfer coefficient determined by the Tafel slope method. A drastic increase in catalytic H2 evolution was observed in PABA and composite. Moreover, they merely require overpotentials as low as ~-0.405 V to attain current densities of ~0.8 and 1.5 Am-2 and show good longterm stability. We further demonstrated in the work the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction of MOF decorated with PABA. These novel MOF/PABA composites with different PABA loading were synthesised via in situ solvothermal synthesis of MOF in the presence of PABA. It was deduced that PABA with different loading amount have an influence on the morphologies, optical properties and thermal stabilities of MOF. Interestingly, the MOF/PABA composites exhibited the great significant on the HER performance and this is potentially useful in HER application for hydrogen fuel cell.
Sasol Inzalo foundation and National Research Foundation of South Africa

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is extensively used in a broad range of industrial and medical applications, such as aseptic processing of food and pharmaceuticals, disinfection, water treatment plants, and decontamination of industrial effluents. H2O2 is believed to be responsible for chemical degradation of polymer membranes in Polymer-Electrolyte-Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Therefore, a versatile H2O2 sensor that functions in different environments with different conditions is of practical importance in various fields. This dissertation presents the fabrication of a fiber-optic H2O2 sensing probe (optrode) and its H2O2 sensing behavior in different conditions. An H2O2 optrode is fabricated using chemical deposition of Prussian blue (PB) onto the tip of a multimode optical fiber. Sensing tests are performed in aqueous solutions at a constant pH and different concentrations of H2O2. Sensing features of the optrode (i.e. repeatability, durability, and reproducibility) are assessed by performing multiple sensing tests with several optrodes. The results show the prepared optrode is able to detect concentrations of H2O2 in aqueous solutions at a constant pH of 4 and the optrode features a repeatable and durable response at this condition. The functionality of optrodes at different pH values is further investigated by performing additional sensing experiments. These experiments are carried out in aqueous solutions with different concentrations of H2O2 at different pH values (i.e. pH 2-7). The sensor detects the presence of H2O2 at a range of pH values. Sensing behavior of optrodes toward detection and measurement of H2O2 concentrations is studied at the pH value corresponding to an operating PEM fuel cell (i.e. pH 2). The optrode is able to detect concentrations of H2O2 at this condition with a repeatable and durable response. The stability of PB films, prepared through different conditions, is investigated to address the stability of optrodes at elevated temperatures. PB films are first deposited onto the glass slides through three different chemical processes, and then at different synthesis temperatures. The PB films are left in Phosphate-Buffer-Solutions (PBS) with pH 2 and at elevated temperatures for a day. Finally, PB films are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze their stability following PBS processing at operating temperatures and pH value corresponding to an operating PEM fuel cell (i.e. 80 °C and pH 2). The results of these experiments illustrate the PB films prepared through the single-source precursor (SSP) technique and at synthesis temperatures above 60 °C remain stable after the PBS processing. The proposed optrode shows reliable sensing behavior toward detection and measurement of H2O2 concentrations in aqueous solutions at different conditions. The prepared optrode has the potential for being developed and used in different industrial and medical fields, as well as an operating PEM fuel cell, to detect and measure H2O2 concentrations.
Graduate
0794
0548
0485
hakbarik@uvic.ca

Trace amounts of carbon monoxide, typically as low as 10 ppm CO, have a deleterious effect on the activation overpotential losses in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This is because CO preferentially adsorbs on the Pt electrocatalyst at the anode at typical PEM fuel cell operating temperatures, thereby preventing the absorption and ionisation of hydrogen. The inability of current preferential oxidation steps to completely remove CO from hydrogen-rich gas streams has stimulated research into CO tolerant anodes. As opposed to other CO oxidation catalysts, metal oxide supported gold catalysts have been shown to be active for the afore mentioned reaction at low temperatures, making it ideal for the 80°C operating temperatures of PEM fuel cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the viability of incorporating titanium dioxide supported gold (Au/TiO2) catalysts inside a PEM fuel cell system to remove CO to levels low enough to prevent poisoning of the Pt-containing anode. Two distinct methods were investigated. In the first method, the incorporation of the said Au/TiO2 catalyst inside the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a PEM fuel cell for the selective/preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in hydrogen-rich gas fuels, facilitated by the injection of an air bleed stream, was investigated. It was important for this study to simulate typical fuel cell operating conditions in an external CO oxidation test rig. Factors such as gold loading, oxygen concentration, temperature, pressure, membrane electrode assembly constituents, water formation, and selectivity in hydrogen-rich gas streams, were investigated. The Au/TiO2 catalysts were prepared via deposition-precipitation, a preparation procedure proven to yield nano-sized gold particles, suggested in literature as being crucial for activity on the metal oxide support. The most active catalysts were incorporated into the MEA and its performance tested in a single cell PEM fuel cell. The catalysts proved to yield exceptional activity for all test conditions inside the CO oxidation test rig. However, no significant improvement in CO tolerance was observed when these catalysts were incorporated into the MEA. It was concluded that the thin bilayer configuration resulted in mass transfer and contact time limitations between the catalysts and the simulated reformate gas mixture. Other factors highlighted as possible causes of deactivation included the deleterious effect of the acidic environment in the fuel cell, the formation of liquid water on the catalyst’s surface, and the adverse effect of the organic MEA constituents during the MEA production procedure. The second method investigated was the incorporation of the Au/TiO2 catalyst in an isolated catalyst chamber in the hydrogen feed line to the fuel cell, between the CO contaminated hydrogen gas cylinder and the anode humidifier. Test work in a CO oxidation test rig indicated that with this configuration, the Au/TiO2 catalysts were able to remove CO from concentrations of 2000 ppm to less that 1.3 ppm at a space velocity (SV) of 850 000 ml.gcat -1.h-1 while introducing a 2 per cent air bleed stream. Incorporation of this Au/TiO2 preferential oxidation system into a Johnson Matthey single cell PEM fuel cell test station prevented any measurable CO poisoning when 100 and/or 1000 ppm CO, 2 per cent air in hydrogen was introduced to a 0.39 mg Pt.cm-2 Pt/C anode. These results were superior compared to other state of the art CO tolerance technologies. An economic viability study indicated that the former can be achieved at a cost of gold equal to 0.8 per cent of the USDoE target cost of $45/kW. This concept might allow fuel cells to operate on less pure hydrogen-rich gas, e.g. from H2 that would be stored in a fuel tank/cylinder but that would have some CO contamination and would essentially be dry. The use of less pure H2 should allow a cost incentive to the end user in that less pure H2 can be produced at a significantly lower cost.

Tremendous research efforts have been conducted studying the capturing and conversion of solar energy. Solar thermal power systems offer a compelling opportunity for renewable energy utilization with high efficiencies and excellent cost-effectiveness. The goal of this work was to design a non-concentrating collector capable of reaching temperatures above 250 °C, use this collector to power methanol steam reforming, and operate a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell using the generated hydrogen. The study presents the construction and characterization of a non-concentrating, intermediate-temperature, fin-in-tube evacuated solar collector, made of copper and capable of reaching stagnation temperatures of 268.5 °C at 1000 W/m2 irradiance. The collector was used to power methanol steam reforming, including the initial heating and vaporization of liquid reactants and the final heating of the gaseous reactants. A preferential oxidation (PROX) catalyst was used to remove CO from simulated reformate gas, and this product gas was used to operate a PEM fuel cell. The results show 1) that the outlet temperature is not limited by heat transfer from the absorber coating to the heat transfer fluid, but by the amount of solar energy absorbed. This implicates a constant heat flux description of the heat transfer process and allows for the usage of materials with lower thermal conductivity than copper. 2) It is possible to operate a PEM fuel cell from reformate gas if a PROX catalyst is used to remove CO from the gas. 3) The performance of the fuel cell is only slightly decreased (~4%) by CO2 dilution present in the reformate and PROX gas. These results provide a foundation for the first renewable electricity generation via solar-powered methanol reforming through a hybrid PEM fuel cell system based on novel non-concentrating, intermediate-temperature solar collectors.

Dissertation

碩士
國立臺北科技大學
化學工程與生物科技系化學工程碩士班
106
The solid oxide cells (SOCs) is one of the most important technologies for alternative energy. That are able to operate in two modes: solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). SOFC can be used for combined heat and power (CHP) applications because of its high operating temperature. SOEC consumes electricity and heat to produce hydrogen via a steam electrolysis reaction. Operation of SOEC in high temperature by providing an external heat source improves SOEC performance and reduces its electricity requirement. The partial oxidation reaction (POX), which is a highly exothermic reaction, can be used as an external heat source and can produce fuel from natural gas for SOFC. This study innovatively combines POX with SOFC and SOEC to design a tri-generation system for the production of heat, hydrogen and power. The system is simulated using AspenPlus. The effects of several important operational variables on the system, including the SOFC fuel utilization, the operating temperature of three units, and SOEC steam utilization are analyzed. The comparisons of various configurations between a conventional SOFC and a SOFC integrated with the POX reaction system (POX-SOFC), conventional SOEC and a SOEC integrated with the POX reaction system (POX-SOEC), conventional SOFC-SOEC and a SOFC-SOEC integrated with the POX reaction system (POX-SOFC-SOEC) are carried out. To achieve optimal design, this study evaluate system performance in terms of reforming efficiency, cogeneration efficiency and total tri-generation efficiency. This study propose configurations compared with the conventional systems have four advantages: (1) POX-SOFC system improves the net electric efficiency about 53% compared with conventional SOFC system; (2) POX-SOEC system improves the energy efficiency about 7% compared with conventional SOEC system; (3) POX-SOFC-SOEC system improves the net electrical efficiency about 182% compared with conventional SOFC-SOEC system under the same conditions and hydrogen efficiency 11%. If combined SOFC cathode gas recycle, the net electrical efficiency can enhance about 199%; (4) The total tri-generation efficiency is POX-SOFC-SOEC system about 97% which can avoid the carbon deposition. This result indicates that the partial oxidation reactor improves system to obtain a high energy efficiency. Therefore, light of novel POX-SOFC-SOEC tri-generation system is a valuable energy technology.

There has recently been an increased interest in hydrogen, both as a solution for seasonal energy storage but also for implementations in various industries and as fuel for vehicles. The transition to a society less dependent on fossil fuels highlights the need for new solutions where hydrogen is predicted to play a key role. This project aims to investigate technical and economic outcomes of different strategies for production and storage of hydrogen based on hydrogen demand and source of electricity. This is done by simulating the operation of different systems over a year, mapping the storage level, the source of electricity, and calculating the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). The study examines two main cases. The first case is a system integrated with offshore wind power for production of hydrogen to fuel the operations in the industrial port Gävle Hamn. The second case examines a system for independent refueling stations where two locations with different electricity prices and traffic flows are analyzed. Factors such as demand, electricity prices, and component costs are investigated through simulating cases as well as a sensitivity analysis. Future potential sources of income are also analyzed and discussed. The results show that using an alkaline electrolyzer (AEL) achieves the lowest LCOH while PEM electrolyzer is more flexible in its operation which enables the system to utilize more electricity from the offshore wind power. When the cost of wind electricity exceeds the average electricity price on the grid, a higher share of wind electricity relative to electricity from the grid being utilized in the production results in a higher LCOH. The optimal design of the storage depends on the demand, where using vessels above ground is the most beneficial option for smaller systems and larger systems benefit financially from using a lined rock cavern (LRC). Hence, the optimal design of a system depends on the demand, electricity source, and ultimately on the purpose of the system. The results show great potential for future implementation of hydrogen systems integrated with wind power. Considering the increased share of wind electricity in the energy system and the expected growth of the hydrogen market, these are results worth acknowledging in future projects.