SOLAR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS |
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Date: T.B.A. |
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Chair: Dr. P.J. Sebastian Energy Research Center-UNAM, 62580 Temixco, Morelos, Mexico |
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Biographical Sketch: Professor-Scientist at Energy Research Center, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Major research areas include renewable energy production, storage and application. Semiconductor materials including nanomaterials. Bioenergy and biofuels for sustainable development. Has published more than 200 scientific papers in international journals. Editorial board member of International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems.
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| Objective: The state of the art research and development in hydrogen production using solar energy. Fundamental research in hydrogen production including materials research. Systems development especially hybrid systems for solar energy conversion and storage as hydrogen. | |
The details of the development of a PV-hydrogen hybrid energy system are presented. An arrangement of photovoltaic modules (125 W/module) was established to provide 9 kW installed power in a three-phase configuration at 127 Vrms/phase. A 5 kW fuel cell system (hydrogen/oxygen) operate as a dynamic backup of the photovoltaic system. The autonomous operation of the hybrid power system implies the production of hydrogen by electrolysis. The hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis using an electrolyzer of 1 kW power. The electrical energy used to produce hydrogen is supplied from solar panels by using 1 kW of photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic modules are installed in a sun-tracker arrangement for increasing the energy conversion efficiency. The hydrogen is stored in solar to electric commercial metal hydride based containers and supplied to the fuel cell. The hybrid system is monitored by internet and some dynamic characteristics such as demanding power, energy and power factor could be analyzed independently from the system. Some energy saving recommendations has been implemented as a pilot program at CIE-UNAM to improve the efficient use of clean energy in normal operating conditions in offices and laboratories. |
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NOVEL HYDROGEN STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES |
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Date: T.B.A. |
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Chair: Dr. I.P. Jain Emeritus Professor, |
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| Objective: Energy is an important aspect in the development of any nation. In view of the rising energy demand and reducing sources of conventional energy; Energy Conservation, Management and Applications of the Non-Conventional Energy Sources becomes imperative. The other aspect is pollution added by these sources in our environment. The more we use these sources the poorer is our quality of life on this planet. Hydrogen Shows the Solution and also allows the progressive and non-traumatic transition of today’s energy sources, towards feasible safe reliable and complete sustainable energy chains. Research and development for hydrogen energy indicates the firm advances in hydrogen production, storage, distribution and different uses of hydrogen. Development of Hydrogen technology is the way to supply energy to isolated places, many of them in India, Latin America and the Caribbean. It represents an area where 2/3rd of the population lives. There are sufficient environmental and public health benefits of direct hydrogen fuel to justify moving ahead based on what we know already about fossil fuels, their consequences and their limitations. The economic case for hydrogen will continue to strengthen as well, even without a global warming treaty. A climate change treaty would only “sweeten the pot.” A major obstacle in the way of a transition to hydrogen economy has been the absence of a practical means for hydrogen storage. Storage of hydrogen in liquid or gaseous form poses important safety problems for on-board transport and cannot fulfill future storage goals. Chemical or physically combined storage of hydrogen in other materials has potential advantages over other storage methods. A suitable material for hydrogen storage is one of the key requirements for a possible hydrogen economy. An optimum hydrogen-storage material is required to have the following properties; high hydrogen capacity per unit mass and unit volume which determines the amount of available energy, low dissociation temperature, moderate dissociation pressure, low heat of formation in order to minimize the energy necessary for hydrogen release, low heat dissipation during the exothermic hydride formation, reversibility, limited energy loss during charge and discharge of hydrogen, fast kinetics, high stability against O2 and moisture for long cycle life, cyclibility, low cost of recycling and charging infrastructures and high safety. So far the most of hydrogen storage alloys such as LaNi5, TiFe, TiMn2, have hydrogen storage capacities, not more than 2 wt% which is not satisfactory for practical application as per DOE Goal. A group of Mg based hydrides stand as promising candidate for competitive hydrogen storage with reversible hydrogen capacity upto 7.6 wt% for on board applications. Efforts have been devoted to these materials to decrease their desorption temperature, enhance the kinetics and cycle life. The kinetics has been improved by adding an appropriate catalyst into the system and as well as by ball milling that introduces defects with improved surface properties. The studies reported promising results, such as improved kinetics and lower desorption temperatures, however, the state of the art materials are still far from meeting the aimed target for their transport applications. Therefore further research work is needed to achieve the goal by improving development on hydrogenation, thermal and cyclic behavior of metal hydrides. The present session deals with various aspects of hydrogen storage materials. |
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY OF THE PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES (PHEV), POTENTIAL AND IMPACT ON THE HYDROGEN ECONOMY |
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Date: T.B.A. |
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Chair: Dr. Michael Fowler Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Univerisity of Waterloo
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| Objective: The emergence of PHEV technology can be seen as competing technology for hydrogen vehicles, or simply as an synergistic technology that is one step towards vehicle electrification and ultimately a hydrogen economy. Speakers will present various aspects and views, and then discuss this issue with conference participants in a panel format. | |
Speakers: The Role of Emissions Standards and Regulation to support a Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles (PHEVs and/or Hydrogen Vehicles) Bob Oliver, P.Eng. Current Status of the Development of Key PHEV Technology – At Leading Edge Ricardo Bazzarella, P.Eng. Electrical Grid Limitations for Potential Penetration for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles and PHEV With the Current Electrical Infrastructure in Ontario Dr. Michael Fowler
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PEM FUEL CELLS |
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Date: T.B.A. |
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Chair: Dr. Xianguo Li 20/20 Laboratory for Fuel Cells and Green Energy RD&D |
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Biographical Sketch: Dr. Xianguo Li is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He received his Ph.D. in 1989 in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illiois, U.S.A. He has a wide range of research interests, including fuel cells, liquid atomization and sprays, and energy systems. His research is both fundamental and applied, involving technologies deplorable today and in the future. Dr. Li has published extensively; including over 100 journal articles, and a book titled “Principles of Fuel Cells”; the editor for the book series “Progress in Green Energy”, and co-editors for the books “PEM Fuel Cells: Materials Properties and Performance” and “Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Materials Properties and Performance”. His published articles have received extensive citations, including some rated as the “highly cited articles, within the top 1% in the field”; and many are listed within the top 25 hottest articles for the journals where the articles were published. Dr. Li has contributed actively to the progress of the profession and society. He is the founding editor in chief for the International Journal of Green Energy, and established the International Green Energy Conference series. He is the founding president of the International Association for Green Energy (IAGE). He is currently serving on the editorial board of a number of international scientific/technical journals, a book series on fuel cells and an encyclopaedia on energy engineering and technology. Dr. Li also serves as the division chair for the Advanced Energy Systems technical division, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. He has also served on various ad hoc committees established by different levels of government. Dr. Li provides consulting services to national and international corporations and different levels of government. |
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Objective: This special session will focus on the science, engineering and technology of PEM fuel cells needed for commercialization. The session will consist of invited and contributed presentations. |
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Special Talk: ``Water and Thermal Management in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells`` by X. Li Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell has been increasingly an enabling technology for the development of future energy systems for sustainable development and energy security. Water and thermal management are two critical issues for the commercialization of PEM fuel cell technology. In this presentation, the importance, the physical origin, the current practice and the potential technical solutions tackling water and thermal management in PEM fuel cells will be described. |
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Special Talk: ``Catalyst-Layers of PEM Fuel Cells: from Microstructure to Performance`` by Dr. Zhong Sheng (Simon) Liu Senior Research Officer and Group Leader Email : simon.liu@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Abstract This presentation outlines the basic concepts and the technology status of catalyst-layers of PEM fuel cells. It covers catalyst-layer materials, fabrication approaches verses resulting microstructures, microstructures verses macro-properties, and macro-properties verses performances. The mass & heat transport phenomenon is discussed in details from the perspectives of modeling and experimental characterization. The failure modes of the catalyst-layers are also addressed with a focus on microstructure changes and deformation resulting from load cycling. The technological challenges to bridge the gap between the existing catalyst-layer technologies and the commercialization requirements are discussed, and then future research needs and research directions are pointed out. Biography of Dr. Zhong Sheng (Simon) Liu Dr. Liu is a senior research officer and group leader (modeling and simulation group) at NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. He was the Institute’s acting director of science and technology from June 2006 to June 2007. His university degrees (Bachelor, Master and PhD) were granted by Jilin University. He was a full professor/Ph.D supervisor of Jilin University. He spent six years conducting research in computational mechanics at Peking University, University of California at Berkeley, Technical University of Munich, University of Wales Swansea and University of Toronto. Since 1998 when he joined NRC, he has been leading the modeling and simulation group to perform computational modeling at different length-scales (atomic-scale, molecular-scale and continuum-scale) for different applications such as fuel cell catalysts, catalyst-layers, behaviors of thin-films made of nano particles, mass/heat transport phenomena, fluid flow, stress-strain analysis, vibration and acoustics. One of his current research interests is in catalyst-layers of PEM fuel cells. He is an adjunct professor of University of Waterloo and University of Victoria.
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