Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen An Exergy Approach

by Barclay, Frederick J.

• ISBN13: 9780470019047
• ISBN10: 0470019042
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-07-28
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Fuel cell technology is the most exciting and legitimate alternative source of power currently available to us as world resources of non-renewable fuel continue to be depleted. No other power generating technology holds the same benefits that fuel cells offer, including high reliability and efficiency, negligible environmental impact, and security of supply. Fuel cells run on hydrogen - the simplest and most plentiful gas in the universe - although they can also run on carbon monoxide, methane, or even coal. Their applications are diverse, from powering automobiles, buildings and portable electronics, to converting methane gas from wastewater plants and landfills into electricity.Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen is a controversial text that challenges the accepted industry parameters for measuring fuel cell performance and efficiency. Based on his inter-disciplinary experience in the fields of power, nuclear power, and desalination, the author contends that the development potential of the fuel cell is related to the quantity fuel chemical exergy, which, like electrical potential, is a quantitative measure of work done. The fuel cell community currently characterises these devices in terms of the enthalpy of combustion (calorific value) - however the author argues a correct, qualitatively different and fourfold larger characterisation is via the fuel chemical exergy, in units of work, and not energy. He asserts that the distortion introduced by this accepted perspective needs to be corrected before relatively efficient fuel cells, integrated with comparatively low performing gas turbines, reach the market.Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen features a foreword by Dr Gerry Agnew, Executive VP Engineering of Rolls Royce Fuel Cells Systems Ltd. It is essential reading for all engineers involved with fuel cells and/ or the manufacture of hydrogen from natural gas, as well as academics in related disciplines such as thermodynamics, physical chemistry, materials, physics, mechanical and chemical engineering.

Author Biography

Now an independent consultant, Frederick J. Barclay (BSc, ARCST, FIEE, FIMechE, FInstP) is internationally respected for his work in the fields of the thermodynamics of power, desalination, fuel cells, and exergy aspects of combined heat and power. He has been involved in this area for many years and has a vast experience of the subject in practice. He is the author of a number of highly regarded papers on this subject.

Table of Contents

List of Figures.

Foreword.

Introduction, and Commentary on matters affecting all Chapters.

Chapter 1 New perspectives, Fuel cells, (liquid and gaseous), Engines, Integrated Fuel Cells and Engines, Hydrogen Sources, Hydrogen Economy.

Chapter 2 Regenerative Fuel cells, the Regenesys ™ Power Storage System.

2.1 Introduction to Regenesys System, and ownership changes.

2.2 History and Patents.

2.3 Innogy Ltd and Regenesys Technologies Ltd.

2.4 Elementary Chemistry.

2.5 Modus Operandi of Regenesysä.

2.6 Some Construction Details.

2.7 Ion and Electron Transfer.

2.8 Power Storage Applications

2.9 Initial Operating Experience

2.10 Power Electronics

Chapter 3 Irreversible Thermodynamics.

3.1 Circulators in cells and electrolysers.

3.2 Irreversibility- An Introduction via Joule's Experiment.

3.3 SPFC Irreversibility.

3.4 Bacon's Fuel Cell, Avoidance of Irreversibility.

3.5 Fuel Cell Engineering.

3.6 Irreversibility in Calculation Routes.

3.7 Juggling with Irreversibilities.

3.8 Air Breathing Cells- Irreversibilities

3.9 Liquid Electrolytes at the Electrode,"Ice" Films, Marangoni Forces, and Diffusion Irreversibilities.

3.10 Overvoltage- an Electrical Irreversibility.

3.11 Bi-conductor Layers at the Electrode/Electrolyte Interface.

3.12 IR Drop.

Chapter 4 Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

4.1 Arrangement of References

4.2 Siemens-Westinghouse

4.3 Rolls-Royce.

4.4 NGK Insulators

4.5 Mitsubshi Materials Corp

4.6 Imperial College London and Ceres Power Ltd.

4.7 Ceramic Fuel Cells, Australia

4.8 Forschumgs Zentrum Julich.

4.9 Global-Thermo-Electric

4.10 Allied Signal.

4.11 Acumentrics

4.12 Adelan.

4.13 Sulzer Hexis

4.14 ECN/InDEC, Petten, Netherlands.

4.15 General Electric Hybrid Power Sytems.

Chapter 5 Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells.

Chapter 6 Solid Polymer Fuel Cells.

6.1 Ballard Power Systems.

6.2 Electro-Catalysis in the SPFC.

6.3 Cathode Voltage losses in the SPFC.

6.4 The SPFC Hydrogen Economy in Iceland..

6.5 Fuel Supply.

6.6 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

6.7 Tokyo Gas Company, Desulphuriser.

6.8 Remarks

Chapter 7 Economics and Prognosis.

List of References.

Appendix A Thermodynamic Appendix.

Part 1- Thermodynamic Preamble on the Fuel Cell Equilibrium Diagram, Figure 1.1a.

Part 2- Utilisation of Equilibrium Diagram for Calculation of Chemical Exergy.

Part 3- Chemical Exergy of Methane, and Related High Efficiency Hydrogen Production

Part 4- Elaboration of Figs 1.2 and 1.3, Equilibrium Methane Oxidation Routes.

Part 5- Practical Power Production for the Future. Complete fuel Cells integrated with Gas Turbines: the Harvard University Coal Fuel Cell.

Appendix B Patent Search Examples.

Appendix C List of Websites.

Index.