Fuel Cell Technology - (Engineering Materials and Processes) by Nigel Sammes (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the energy of a fuel (such as hydrogen, natural gas or other hydrocarbon-based fuels) directly into electricity. All fuel cells consist of an electrolyte layer in contact with an anode and a cathode on either side. The oxidation reaction occurs on the anode side of the fuel cell, while reduction takes place on the cathode. Single fuel cells are usually connected either in series, or in parallel, to form a stack, which is capable of producing s- eral watts to many kW of power, depending on the requirements. The fuel cell stack requires a number of other components to complete the s- tem. These components are usually termed the balance-of-plant (BoP) and consist of the fuel cell processing section, the power section (the components surrounding the stack itself) and the power conditioning and control units. Fuel processing is required to produce a hydrogen-rich gas (and possibly to desulfurize the gas), while the power-conditioning unit is there to convert variable DC to controlled AC current, with a specific frequency, active and reactive power. It also acts as fe- back to control the fuel flow to the stack.

From the Back Cover

The world's ever-growing demand for power has created a need for new efficient and sustainable sources of energy and electricity. In recent years, fuel cells have become a highly-promising potential source of power for military, commercial and industrial uses.

Fuel Cell Technology: Reaching Towards Commercialization provides a one-volume survey of state-of-the art research in fuel cells, with in-depth coverage of the two types of fuel cell most likely to become commercialized - the high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and the low-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM).

All aspects of SOFC and PEM technology are covered, including:

materials selection and analysis for fuel cells;

fuel cell stack design and development;

modeling and control of processes and systems; and,

reforming technology.

The book also signposts the emerging field of microbial fuel cells, the main alternative to SOFCs and PEMs.

Fuel Cell Technology: Reaching Towards Commercialization is an essential reference for researchers, academics and industrialists interested in up-to-date information on fuel cell development.

The Engineering Materials and Processes series focuses on all forms of materials and the processes used to synthesise and formulate them as they relate to the various engineering disciplines.The series deals with a diverse range of materials: ceramics, metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), semiconductors, composites, polymers biomimetics, etc. Each monograph in the series is written by a specialist and demonstrates how enhancements in materials and the processes associated with them can improve performance in the field of engineering in which they are used.

About the Author

The book will be edited by the Center's Director, Professor Nigel Sammes. Professor Sammes has been the head of the Center since its inception and was previously a researcher in industry and a full professor of materials and process engineering at the University of Waikato, New Zealand.