FW: ME260 - Fuel cell science and technology

FYI

 

From: Rainer Fasching [mailto:rfasch@stanford.edu]
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 2:23 PM
To: Mary Tang
Subject: FW: ME260 - Fuel cell science and technology

 

 

Dear Mary:

 

I’m teaching ME260 course this spring quarter. The announcement was placed delayed on the bulletin and I want to make sure that students  are aware of this course opportunity. I would appreciate it very much, if you could forward this email to SNF students/colleagues.

 

Thanks,

Rainer Fasching

 

ME260

Fuel Cell Science and Technology

Spring 2010

 

Tuesday, Thursday 4:15pm-5:30pm

Lane History Corner (Bldg 200), Room 305

 

Audience: Targeted at advanced undergraduate or beginning level graduate students in the engineering or physical sciences. We anticipate diverse student backgrounds and furthermore recognize that the electrochemical concepts will be new to most students. Therefore, the material will be presented assuming no prior background in electrochemistry. Much of the material covered will be theoretical and fundamental in nature.

Description: Fuel cells provide one of the most efficient means for converting the chemical energy stored in a fuel to electrical energy.  Fuel cells offer improved energy efficiency and reduced pollution compared to heat engines.  While composed of no (or very few) moving parts, a complete fuel cell system amounts to a small chemical plant for the production of power.  This course introduces students to the fundamental aspects of fuel cell systems, with emphasis placed on proton exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).  Students will learn the basic principles of electrochemical energy conversion while being exposed to relevant topics in materials science, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.

 

 

Outline:

Fuel Cell Principles

What is a Fuel Cell?

Fuel Cell Thermodynamics

Fuel Cell Kinetics

Fuel Cell Charge Transport

Diffusion and Mass Transport

Fuel cell Modeling

Fuel cell Characterization           

Fuel Cell Technology

                                Fuel cell Types

                                Fuel cell Stacking

                                Fuel cell Systems

                                Fuel cell Applications

 

Objectives: By the end of the course, students will have gained the skills and knowledge to demonstrate the following objectives:

·         Fuel Cell Characteristics. Contrast the advantages and disadvantages of fuel cells to other energy conversion technologies (e.g. heat engines). Discuss the advantages and disadvantages between the various fuel cell types (SOFC, MCFC, PAFC, AFC, PEMFC).

·         Fuel Cell Thermodynamics. Perform thermodynamic calculations to quantitatively predict ideal fuel cell voltages as a function of gas concentrations, pressure, and temperature. Calculate thermodynamic efficiencies. Perform heat and mass balances on fuel cell systems. Describe the basic mechanisms of fuel cell reactions, electron transfer, and ionic transport at the molecular scale.

·         Fuel Cell Kinetics. Derive equations for activation, IR, and concentration losses in fuel cell systems. Assemble a complete (simple) analytical model for a fuel cell system and use it to predict fuel cell performance over a range of operating conditions (e.g. at various temperature, pressures, feed rates, etc.) Identify the most significant kinetic constraints that limit current fuel cell performance and suggest research directions to improve performance.

·         Fuel Cell Research. Identify the major materials issues remaining in fuel cell design. Describe the most important characterization techniques used to test fuel cell performance and identify bottlenecks. 

·         Fuel Cell Systems. Describe the major strategies for fuel cell stacking. Compare planar vs. vertical fuel cell interconnection. Discuss the major fuel cell system applications (portable, transportation, stationary power) and be able to argue which fuel cell types are most suited for each application. Discuss and describe the ancillary equipment necessary for a complete fuel cell system (Compressors, humidification, reformers, heat management, power conditioning). Perform a basic economic analysis to predict the cost reductions necessary such that fuel cell systems can be economically competitive with current energy conversion technologies.

 

 

 

Rainer Fasching, PhD

Cons. Associate Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Stanford University

 

Mail: 440 Escondido Mall, Bldg. 530, Rm. 220, Stanford, CA 94305-3030

Email: rfasch@stanford.edu

Phone: 415-505-3385

Fax: 650-723-5034