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1 – 10 of over 5000Elena Carcadea, H. Ene, D.B. Ingham, R. Lazar, L. Ma, M. Pourkashanian and I. Stefanescu
This paper aims to present a three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that simulates the fluid flow, species transport and electric current flow in PEM fuel…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a three‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model that simulates the fluid flow, species transport and electric current flow in PEM fuel cells.
Design/methodology/approach
The model makes use of a general‐purpose CFD software as a basic tool incorporating fuel cell specific submodels for multi‐component species transport, electrochemical kinetics, water management and electric phase potential analysis in order to simulate various processes that occur in a PEM fuel cell.
Findings
Three dimensional results for the flow field, species transport, including waster formations, and electric current distributions are presented for two test flow configurations in the PEM fuel cell. For the two cases presented, reasonable predictions have been obtained, and this provides an insight into the effect of the flow designs to the operation of the fuel cell.
Research limitations/implications
It is appreciated that the CFD modeling of fuel cells is, in general, still facing significant challenges due to the limited understanding of the complex physical and chemical processes existing within the fuel cell. The model is now under further development to improve its capabilities and undergoing further validations.
Practical implications
The model simulations can provide detailed information on some of the key fluid dynamics, physical and chemical/electro‐chemical processes that exist in fuel cells which are crucial for fuel cell design and optimization.
Originality/value
The model can be used to understand the operation of the fuel cell and provide and alternative to experimental investigations in order to improve the performance of the fuel cell.
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This paper aims to evaluate nine types of electrical energy generation options with regard to seven criteria. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to perform the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate nine types of electrical energy generation options with regard to seven criteria. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to perform the evaluation. The TOPSIS method was used to evaluate the best generation technology.
Design/methodology/approach
The options that were evaluated are the hydrogen combustion turbine, the hydrogen internal combustion engine, the hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas turbine, the natural gas combined cycle and the natural gas internal combustion engine. The criteria used for the evaluation are CO2 emissions, NOX emissions, efficiency, capital cost, operation and maintenance costs, service life and produced electricity cost.
Findings
The results drawn from the analysis in technology wise are as follows: natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells>natural gas combined cycle>natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cells>natural gas internal combustion engine>hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cells>hydrogen internal combustion engines>hydrogen combustion turbines>hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cells> and natural gas turbine. It shows that the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells are the best technology available among all the available technology considering the seven criteria such as service life, electricity cost, O&M costs, capital cost, NOX emissions, CO2 emissions and efficiency of the plant.
Research limitations/implications
The most dominant electricity generation technology proved to be the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells which ranked in the first place among nine alternatives. The research is helpful to evaluate the different alternatives.
Practical implications
The research is helpful to evaluate the different alternatives and can be extended in all the spares of technologies.
Originality/value
The research was the original one. Nine energy generation options were evaluated with regard to seven criteria. The energy generation options were the hydrogen combustion turbine, the hydrogen internal combustion engine, the hydrogen fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the hydrogen fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled phosphoric acid fuel cell, the natural gas fuelled solid oxide fuel cell, the natural gas turbine, the natural gas combined cycle and the natural gas internal combustion engine. The criteria used for the evaluation were efficiency, CO2 emissions, NOX emissions, capital cost, O&M costs, electricity cost and service life.
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Anna Maria Mazur and Roman Domanski
The presented research is carried out in reaction to the soaring costs of fuel and tight control over environmental issues such as carbon dioxide emissions and noise. The purpose…
Abstract
Purpose
The presented research is carried out in reaction to the soaring costs of fuel and tight control over environmental issues such as carbon dioxide emissions and noise. The purpose of this paper is to study the feasibility of applying the environmental-friendly energy source in an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) propulsion system.
Design/methodology/approach
Currently, the majority of UAVs are still powered by conventional combustion engines. An electric propulsion system is most commonly found in civilian micro and mini UAVs. The UAV classification is reviewed in this study. This paper focuses mainly on application of electric propulsion systems in UAVs. Investigated hybrid energy systems consist of fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, super-capacitors and photovoltaic (PV) modules. Current applications of fuel cell systems in UAVs are also presented.
Findings
The conducted research shows that hybridization allows for better energy management and operation of every energy source onboard the UAV within its limits. The hybrid energy system design should be created to maximize system efficiency without compromising the performance of the aircraft.
Practical implications
The presented study highlights the reduction of the energy consumption, necessary to perform the mission and maximizing of the endurance with simultaneous decrease in emissions and noise level.
Originality/value
The conducted research studies the feasibility of implementing the environmental-friendly hybrid electric propulsion systems in UAVs that offers high efficiency, reliability, controllability, lack of thermal and noise signature, thus, providing quiet and clean drive with low vibration levels. This paper highlights the main challenges and current research on fuel cell in aviation and draws attention to fuel cell – electric system modeling, hybridization and energy management.
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Tugrul Daim and Stephen Jordan
This paper aims to forecast technological change for laptop batteries. The most promising technology to replace laptop batteries emerging today is micro fuel cells.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to forecast technological change for laptop batteries. The most promising technology to replace laptop batteries emerging today is micro fuel cells.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use several sources of technical data like the Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratory Technical Library for exploring this topic further. Patents were searched for fuel cell and lithium battery development and to perform a technology cycle time analysis, identify countries filing patents, and discover what areas they are working on development.
Findings
Based on the analysis, fuel cells promise to be the technology that will replace laptop lithium batteries.
Originality/value
This paper attempts to draw a framework bringing different scientific data sources together for technology forecasting.
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Zbigniew Magonski and Barbara Dziurdzia
The aim of this paper is to find the electrical representation of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that enables the application of typical exploitation characteristics of fuel cells…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to find the electrical representation of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that enables the application of typical exploitation characteristics of fuel cells for estimation of fuel cell parameters (for example, exchange current) and easy analysis of phenomena occurred during the fuel cell operation.
Design/methodology/approach
Three-layer structure of an SOFC, where a thin semi-conducting layer of electrolyte separates the anode from the cathode, shows a strong similarity to typical semiconductor devices built on the basis of P-N junctions, like diodes or transistors. Current–voltage (I-V) characteristics of a fuel cell can be described by the same mathematical functions as I-V plots of semiconductor devices. On the basis of this similarity and analysis of impedance spectra of a real fuel cell, two electrical representations of the SOFC have been created.
Findings
The simplified electrical representation of SOFC consists of a voltage source connected in series with a diode, which symbolizes a voltage drop on a cell cathode, and two resistors. This model is based on the similarity of Butler-Volmer to Shockley equation. The advanced representation comprises a voltage source connected in series with a bipolar transistor in close to saturation mode and two resistors. The base-emitter junction of the transistor represents voltage drop on the cell cathode, and the base-collector junction represents voltage drop on the cell anode. This model is based on the similarity of Butler-Volmer equation to Ebers-Moll equation.
Originality/value
The proposed approach based on the Shockley and Ebers-Moll formulas enables the more accurate estimation of the ion exchange current and other fuel cell parameters than the approach based on the Butler-Volmer and Tafel formulas. The usability of semiconductor models for analysis of SOFC operation was proved. The models were successively applied in a new design of a planar ceramic fuel cell, which features by reduced thermal capacity, short start-up time and limited number of metal components and which has become the basis for the SOFC stack design.
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Sushanth Bavirisetti and Mithilesh Kumar Sahu
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of the gas turbine cycle integrated with solid oxide fuel cell technology. In the present work, intermediate temperature…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of the gas turbine cycle integrated with solid oxide fuel cell technology. In the present work, intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell has been considered, as it is economical, can attain an activation temperature in a quick time, and also have a longer life compared to a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell, which helps in the commercialization and can generate two ways of electricity as a hybrid configuration.
Design/methodology/approach
The conceptualized cycle has been analyzed with the help of computer code developed in MATLAB with the help of governing equations. In this work, the focus is on the performance investigation of a Gas turbine intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell hybrid cycle. The work also analyzes the performance behavior of the proposed cycle with various design and operating parameters.
Findings
It is found that the power generation efficiency of the IT-SOFC-GT hybrid system reaches up to 60% (LHV) for specific design and operating conditions. The cycle calculations of an IT-SOFC-GT hybrid system and its conceptual design have been presented in this work.
Originality/value
The unique feature of this work is that IT-SOFC has been adopted for integration instead of HT-SOFC, and this work also provides the performance behavior of the hybrid system with varying design and operating parameters, which is the novelty of this work. This work has significant scientific merit, as the cost involved for the commercialization of IT-SOFC is comparatively lower than HT-SOFC and provides a good option to energy manufacturers for generating clean energy at a low cost.
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Sinan Keiyinci and Kadir Aydin
The endurance of small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is directly associated with the energy density of the propulsion system used. As the batteries commonly used in small UAVs have…
Abstract
Purpose
The endurance of small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is directly associated with the energy density of the propulsion system used. As the batteries commonly used in small UAVs have a relatively low energy density, they are not sufficient for long-term endurance tasks. The purpose of this paper is to offer a solution to increase the endurance of a concept small UAV with combination of different power sources. The design, construction and ground tests of fuel cell-powered hybrid propulsion systems are presented in this paper.
Design/methodology/approach
The power requirements of a concept UAV were calculated according to aerodynamic calculations and then, hybrid propulsion system sources are determined. The hybrid system consists of a 100 W scale proton-exchange membrane (PEM) type fuel cell stack, lithium-polymer battery, solar cells and power management system (PMS). Subsequently, this hybrid power system was integrated with the new design of PMS and then series of ground tests were carried out.
Findings
This experimental study proved that it is theoretically possible to obtain an endurance of around 3 h for concept UAV with the proposed hybrid system.
Practical implications
The research study shows that fuel cell-based hybrid propulsion system with the proposed PMS can be widely used to obtain extended endurance in small UAVs.
Originality/value
A hybrid propulsion system with a novel PMS unit is proposed for small UAVs and the ground tests were implemented.
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Alternative energy sources and power generation techniques for long‐term space missions are gaining importance in recent years for future bases and colonies on the Moon or Mars…
Abstract
Purpose
Alternative energy sources and power generation techniques for long‐term space missions are gaining importance in recent years for future bases and colonies on the Moon or Mars. Current technologies used for manned or unmanned missions to the Moon or Mars use either solar panels (bulky, expensive/kilogram to space, and inefficient) or nuclear energy (extremely dangerous and unpopular). Enzyme based bio fuel cells can be used as alternative energy sources, but its survival depends on maintaining appropriate temperature and pressure in space. The purpose of this paper is to detail the concept design and development of a payload tank to house bio fuel cells for operations in space environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Details about the development of the design methodology for such housing are discussed. A full‐scale payload tank is designed to house a small biological fuel cell using space grade materials. Requirements analysis, design, validation, and manufacturing process are covered.
Findings
The outcome is a dimensionally optimized housing structure for housing biological fuel cells and maintaining the temperature and pressure for survival of the fuel cell.
Originality/value
The designed payload housing satisfies all the constraints and requirements. Furthermore, its advantages include scalability and modularity by virtue of using optimized design approach. The final product provides a planned procedure for designing larger housing for other missions.
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Keywords
Jinbei Tian, Mohammed S. Ismail, Derek Ingham, Kevin J. Hughes, Lin Ma and Mohamed Pourkashanian
This paper aims to investigate the impact of three different flow channel cross sections on the performance of the fuel cell.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of three different flow channel cross sections on the performance of the fuel cell.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive three-dimensional polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell model has been developed, and a set of conservation equations has been solved. The flow is assumed to be steady, fully developed, laminar and isothermal. The investigated cross sections are the commonly used square cross section, the increasingly used trapezoidal cross section and a novel hybrid configuration where the cross section is square at the inlet and trapezoidal at the outlet.
Findings
The results show that a slight gain is obtained when using the hybrid configuration and this is because of increased velocity, which improves the supply of the reactant gases to the catalyst layers (CLs) and removes heat and excess water more effectively compared to other configurations. Further, the reduction of the outlet height of the hybrid configuration leads to even better fuel cell performance and this is again because of increased velocity in the flow channel.
Research limitations/implications
The data generated in this study will be highly valuable to engineers interested in studying the effect of fluid cross -sectional shape on fuel cell performance.
Originality/value
This study proposes a novel flow field with a variable cross section. This design can supply a higher amount of reactant gases to the CLs, dissipates heat and remove excess water more effectively.
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