Fuel Cells. Problems and Solutions

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.

This ready reference is unique in collating in one scientifically precise and comprehensive handbook the widespread data on what is feasible and realistic in modern fuel cell technology. Edited by one of the leading scientists in this exciting area, the short, uniformly written chapters provide economic data for cost considerations and a full overview of demonstration data, covering such topics as fuel cells for transportation, fuel provision, codes and standards. The result is highly reliable facts and figures for engineers, researchers and decision makers working in the field of fuel cells.

Summarizes research encompassing all of the aspects required to understand, fabricate and integrate enzymatic fuel cells Contributions span the fields of bio-electrochemistry and biological fuel cell research Teaches the reader to optimize fuel cell performance to achieve long-term operation and realize commercial applicability Introduces the reader to the scientific aspects of bioelectrochemistry including electrical wiring of enzymes and charge transfer in enzyme fuel cell electrodes Covers unique engineering problems of enzyme fuel cells such as design and optimization

This book examines 200 contractual problems which regularly arise on building and engineering projects and provides a detailed explanation of their solutions, citing standard contract conditions and key parts of legal judgements as authority. A succinct summary is provided at the end of each detailed solution. It covers problems together with their solutions in respect of: Procurement matters Tenders and bidding Design issues Letters of intent Contractor's programme Contractor's float Delays Concurrent Delays Extensions of time Liquidated/delay damages Unliquidated damages Variations Loss and expense/additional cost claims Acceleration Global claims Payment Damage to the works Exclusion clauses Retention of title Practical completion Defect correction Adjudication This book deals with a broad range of construction contracts including JCT Standard Form and Design and Build, New Engineering Contract NEC3, ICE and GC/Works/1. This book was first published under the title of One Hundred Contractual Problems and Their Solutions, with a second edition entitled One Hundred and Fifty Contractual Problems and their Solutions. This third edition adds 50 new problems and replaces 15 of those in the last edition. Of the remainder half have been the subject of revision. «Deserves a place on every site and in every office as the standard handbook on contractual problems» —Construction Law Digest

This book considers 150 problems that regularly arise in building contracts and provides a detailed explanation as to their answers. It cites key parts of legal decisions as authority. The new edition includes some 50 new problems, and revised solutions to a third of the problems to take account of recent case law.

The theory, design, construction, and operation of microbial fuel cells Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), devices in which bacteria create electrical power by oxidizing simple compounds such as glucose or complex organic matter in wastewater, represent a new and promising approach for generating power. Not only do MFCs clean wastewater, but they also convert organics in these wastewaters into usable energy. Given the world's limited supply of fossil fuels and fossil fuels' impact on climate change, MFC technology's ability to create renewable, carbon-neutral energy has generated tremendous interest around the world. This timely book is the first dedicated to MFCs. It not only serves as an introduction to the theory underlying the development and functioning of MFCs, it also serves as a manual for ongoing research. In addition, author Bruce Logan, a leading pioneer in MFC research and development, provides practical guidance for the effective design and operation of MFCs based on his own firsthand experience. This reference covers everything you need to fully understand MFCs, including: * Key topics such as voltage and power generation, MFC materials and architecture, mass transfer to bacteria and biofilms, bioreactor design, and fundamentals of electron transfer * Applications across a wide variety of scales, from power generation in the laboratory to approaches for using MFCs for wastewater treatment * The role of MFCs in the climate change debate * Detailed illustrations of bacterial and electrochemical concepts * Charts, graphs, and tables summarizing key design and operation variables * Practice problems and step-by-step examples Microbial Fuel Cells, with its easy-to-follow explanations, is recommended as both a textbook for students and professionals interested in entering the field and as a complete reference for more experienced practitioners.

Adopting a unique, integrated engineering approach, this text simultaneously covers all aspects of design and operation, process analysis, optimization, monitoring and control. It clearly presents the multiple advantages of molten carbonate fuel cells for the efficient conversion of energy, and also includes recent developments in this innovative technology. The whole is rounded off by an appendix featuring benchmark problems with equations and parameters. Vital reading for process, chemical and power engineers, as well as those working in power technology, chemists and electrochemists, materials scientists, and energy-supplying companies.

Including chemical, synthetic, and cross-disciplinary approaches; this book includes the necessary techniques and technologies to help readers better understand polymers for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The methods in the book are essential to researchers and scientists in the field and will lead to further development in polymer and fuel cell technologies. • Provides complete, essential, and comprehensive overview of polymer applications for PEM fuel cells • Emphasizes state-of-the-art developments and methods, like PEMs for novel fuel cells and polymers for fuel cell catalysts • Includes detailed chapters on major topics, like PEM for direct liquid fuel cells and fluoropolymers and non-fluorinated polymers for PEM • Has relevance to a range of industries – like polymer engineering, materials, and green technology – involved with fuel cell technologies and R&D

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It has a place in the energy mix of the future, especially regarding fuel cells (FCs). This book is an investigation into FCs. Prominence is given to the subject of PEMFCs (proton exchange membrane fuel cells) as they offer interesting perspectives on transport and stationary applications. This being said, a number of technological and scientific obstacles remain to be overcome before an industrial level of development can be reached.

This proceedings focuses on both the scientific and technological aspects of fuel cells and high energy density batteries including solid oxide; proton exchange membrane; and direct methanol fuel cells; lithium-ion batteries; oxide-ion electrolytes; proton conductors; mixed ionic-electronic conductors; electrocatalysts; new materials development; and other related solid state and electrochemical aspects including supercapacitors and oxygen separation membranes.