Fuel cells - function and materials
Code: FFY630 and FIM870, 7,5 hp
Latest
news:
For the large assignment see below!
The
schedule can be found here,
select FFY630. Groups for laboratory work will be chosen at the start of
the course, you need to participate in one lab.
Teachers:
Ingvar Albinsson, room F6102B in Physics Forskarhus,
ph. 772 3223, e-mail: ialbin@chalmers.se
Bengt-Erik Mellander, StudentcentrumOrigo,
ph. 772 3340, e-mail: f5xrk@chalmers.se
Examiner:
Bengt-Erik Mellander, ph. 772 3340, e-mail:
f5xrk@chalmers.se
Aim
The course aims at giving a fundamental understanding of the function and
materials of fuel cells, materials properties and components. What is needed to
make the technique commercially available will be discussed.
Goal
The goal of the course is that the student will be able to use their knowledge
from different fields within the fuel cell technology and to identify,
formulate and solve fuel cell related problems.
Content
The interest for fuel cells has increased considerably due to their potential
for mobile and portable applications as well as for stationary power
production. The most important advantages of the fuel cell technique are the
high efficiency, low emissions and noise level. The course treats the basic
principles of the fuel cell technology and performance will be described from a
thermodynamic perspective. Different types of fuel cells will be discussed,
e.g. the polymer fuel cell (PEM), the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), the
molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Also
new types such as the intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (ITSOFC)
will be treated. Materials, ion and electron transport, performance and
analysis will be focused. Balance-of-plant, fuels and fuel reforming will also
be taken into consideration.
Organisation
Lectures and laboratory work
Literature
The literature is available on Internet.
“Fuel cell systems explained”, J. Larminie and
A. Dicks, , Wiley 2003 A good but expensive book, also
available as e-book through Chalmers library. http://chans.lib.chalmers.se/search*swe/a?searchtype=a&searcharg=larminie&SORT=D&searchscope=3
"Fuel cell handbook", J.H. Hirschenhofer,
D.B. Stauffer, R.R. Engleman, and M.G. Klett.: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/fuelcells/seca/pubs/FCHandbook7.pdf
Status and Prospects of Fuel Cells as Automobile Engines: http://www.arb.ca.gov/h2fuelcell/kalhammer/techreport/techreport.htm
General links: http://www.fuelcells.org/info/pubs.html#FreePubs
Lab
work:
Two compulsory labs are included, 2 hours each but this time combined to one 4
hour event. Room F6310 in Physics Forskarhus. Book a time during the first lectures.
Lab
instruction 1
Lab instruction 2
In addition
to this there will also be experimental work on a full scale fuel cell during
the final part of the program.
Project:
Projects
are primarily literature studies or experimental work. (Due to the large number
of students this year the number of experimental projects are limited.) The
project can consist of a study of a specific topic that you are interested in,
for example fuel cells for a specific application like airplanes, mopeds,
motorcycles, trucks, power stations etc or fuel cells for a specific fuel like
ammonia, sugar etc. It can also deal with the production of hydrogen by
reforming, artificial photosynthesis etc or any other subject linked to the
content of the course. The requirement is that you write a report and send it in
by e-mail or in paper form. The deadline for the report is January 20 but this
deadline is negotiable. If you wish to
do a project, send a message to ialbin@chalmers.se with a short description
of what you intend to study. If you wish to do an
experimental project talk to any of the teachers.
Examination:
This course has continuous examination consisting of three minor
assignments during the first few weeks of the course and a larger assignment (home
exam) at the end of the course. The exact dates will be given here. You can
also do a voluntary project, see below.
Minor
assignments:
Solutions should be handed in according to instructions on the assignments, see
below. This constitutes a part of the examination and those who have solved all
the assignments properly will obtain 6 exam points to be added to the total
points, see below.
Assignment 1 Published: October
29, deadline November 20
Assignment 2 Published: November
13, deadline November 27
Assignment 3 Published: November
22, deadline December 4
Large
assignment: Will be
sent by mail to those active in the course Friday 12 December at about 19.00.
If you have not received it, send an e-mail to Bengt-Erik Mellander, f5xrk@chalmers.se Deadline December 21 at 15.00.
Project:
You can do a voluntary
project, e.g. a computer simulation, a literature study on a special field of
interest or an experimental work Discuss with the teachers what you wish to do.
The project can give max 4 exam points to add to the other exam points but only
for improving the grade, for example from 3/G to a higher grade.
Exam
points from assignments and project will be added (the points for the project
only to improve the grade from 3, 4, or G)
Max. total exam points: 20. Grades (Chalmers): 3:
8 p,
Prerequisites
Basic thermodynamics
PRELIMINARY
PLANNING:
|
|
Content |
Chapter FCE |
Chapter FCH |
|
1 |
Introduction. Course content. Basic fuel cell
technique |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
Efficiency and voltage |
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
Efficiency and voltage, cont. |
2 |
2 |
|
4 |
Cell voltage under load |
2, 3 |
2 |
|
5 |
Cells voltage under load, cont. |
2, 3 |
2, 3 |
|
6 |
PEM, DMFC |
4, 6 |
4 |
|
7 |
DMFC cont. AFC, PAFC, |
5, 6, 7 |
6 |
|
8 |
MCFC, SOFC |
7 |
5, 6 |
|
9 |
SOFC cont |
7 |
5 |
|
10 |
Fuels and
reforming |
|
|
|
11 |
Fuels and
reforming cont |
|
|
|
12 |
Simulations and applications |
|
|
|
13 |
Applications, unusual fc-types |
|
|
|
14 |
Applications,
research and development |
|
|
FCE - Fuel cell systems explained”, J. Larminie and A. Dicks
FCH - "Fuel cell handbook",
J.H. Hirschenhofer, D.B. Stauffer,
R.R. Engleman, and M.G. Klett.
Senastuppdaterad: 2010-04-06
B-E Mellander