Fuel cell system Micro

However, most fuel cell systems can tolerate methane concentrations up to at least 1% in the reformate, no special purification reactions are required. In contrast, hence, removing small residual amounts of carbon monoxide from pre-purifled reformate applying the methanation reaction may be considered as an alternative to the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide, provided that the CO concentration is low enough to have no significant impact on the hydrogen yield. However, no applications of methanation for CO clean-up in micro structured devices appear to have been reported, hence the issue is not discussed in depth. Finally, during hydrocarbon reforming all hydrocarbon species (saturated and unsaturated) smaller than the feed molecule may be formed. 

Nowadays, the most common small-scale application of hydrogen is the use in residential or mobile fuel cell systems. Special requirements of this application are compact design, integrated CO-removal, high energetic efficiency, quick start-up and fast transient behavior. The proposed solutions comprise unit-operation-based concepts as well as multifunctional, micro-structured reactors. 

The progress in micro-reactor technology provides the background for the development of compact fuel processors and peripheral components of fuel cell systems. 

Hawkes A, Leach M, (2005). Sohd oxide fuel cell systems for residential micro-combined heat and power in the UK Key economic drivers. Journal of Power Sources, 149 72-83 Hellmana H, van den Hoed R, (2007). Characterising fuel cell technology Challenges of the commercialisation process. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 32 305 - 315 Hermann A, Chaudhuri T, Spagnol P, (2005). Bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells A review. 

Ballhausen, A, 2001, A Demonstration of European Micro-CHP Fuel Cell Systems, In Seventh Grove Fuel Cell Symposium, London, Poster. 

Most fuel cell systems have a CPU/controller board with options for remote hardline or wireless control by logic or computer interfaces. Other types are a little less exotic, but usually have some type of micro controller. Safety functions such as leak alarms and shutdown are included in most systems. 

A. Bieberle-Hutter, D. Beckel, A. Infortuna, U. P. Muecke, J. L. M. Rupp, L. J. Gauckler, S. Rey-Mermet, P. Muralt, N. R. Bieri, N. Hotz, M. J. Stutz, D. Poulikakos, P. Heeb, P. Muller, A. Bernard, R. Gmur, T. Hocker, A Micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System as Battery Replacement. J. Power Sources, 177, 123-30 (2008). 

Gottesfeld S, Minas C (2008) Optimization of direct methanol fuel cell systems and their mode of operation. In Kaka S, Pramuanjaroenkij A, Vasiliev L (eds) Mini-micro fuel cells. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 257-268... 

Goto S (2008) Micro fuel cell system for mobile consumer electronic devices. In Sony corp. Small fuel cells for commercial and military applications, 9 ed. Knowledge Press, ISBN-10 1594301360... 

The motion of electrically charged particles or molecules in a stationary medium under the influence of an electric field is called electrophoresis. In such transport the electric force is applied through a potential difference between electrodes. Selective use of the Lorentz force by applying a magnetic field can also induce such movement. Electrophoresis and electroosmosis are two key modaUties of electrokinetic transport which are very useful in micro- and nanofluidics for a variety of apphcations including biomedical (bio-NEMS, etc.), fuel cell, and micro total analysis systems (/r-TASs). In electroosmosis the bulk fluid moves due to the existence of a charged double layer at the solid-hquid interface. While one-dimensional electrophoresis is more commonly used, two-dimensional electrophoresis may also become a useful tool for the separation of gel proteins based on isoelectric property. 

Bieberle-Hutter, A., Santis-Alvarez, A.J., Jiang, B. et al. (2012) Syngas generation from n-butane with an integrated MEMS assembly for gas processing in micro-solid oxide fuel cell systems. Lab Chip, 12, 4894-4902. 

Bieberle-Hutter, A., Beckel, D., Infortuna, A., Muecke, U.P., Rupp, J.L.M., Gauckler, LJ., Rey-Mermet, S., Muralt, P., Bieri, N.R., Hotz, N., Stulz, M.J., Pordikakos, D., Heeb, P., Muller, P., Bernard, A., Gmiir, R., and Hocker, T. (2008) A micro-solid oxide fuel cell system as battery replacement J. Power Sources, 177, 123-130. 

Shah and Besser presented results from their development work targeted at a 20 Wei methanol fuel processor-fuel cell system [66]. The layout of the system consisted of a methanol steam reformer, preferential oxidation, a catalytic afterburner and an evaporator. Vacuum packaging was the insulation strategy for the device, which is in line with other small-scale systems described above. A micro fixed-bed steam reformer coupled to a preferential oxidation reactor was then developed by the same group with a theoretical power output of 0.65 W. 

Y. Kawamura, A micro fuel processor with microreactor for a small fuel cell system, presented at the Small Fuel Cells Conference, Miami, FL, 8-9 March 2007. 

For micro fuel cells, miniaturization of the fuel-cell system is a key issue. Research in this area includes developing passively operating fuel cells in order to reduce the peripheral spends and the parasitic energy losses and minimize the system complexity. Development must also focus on low-cost production materials such as silicon or thermoplastics, and fabrication techniques such as MEMS technology or injection molding. 

Korsgaard, A.R., Nielsen, M.P., and Kaer, S.K. (2008) Part one a novel model of HTPEM-based micropower fuel cell system. Int.J. Hydrogen Energy, 33, 1909. 

Braun, R.J., Klein, S.A., and Reindl, D.T. (2006) Evaluation of system configurations for solid oxide fuel cell-based micro-combined heat and power generators in residential applications. J. Power Sources, 158, 1290-1305. 

Braun, R.J. (2010) Techno-economic optimal design of solid oxide fuel cell systems for micro-combined heat and power applications in the US. J. Pud Cell Sci. Technd., 7, 031018. 

Motorola cooperated with Engelhard and the University of Michigan to develop a micro-structured steam reformer in a project funded by the US Commerce s Department Technology Administration [592]. The integrated fuel processor/fuel cell system consisted of an evaporator, a combustor, a reformer, heat-exchangers, insulation layers and the fuel cell. Ceramic technology was used. The maximum power output of this device, which was patented, amounted to 1W [593]. 

Bieberle-Hiitfia A, Beckel D, Infortuna A, Muecke UP, Rupp JLM, Gauckler LJ, Rey-Mermet S, Muralt P, Bieri NR, Hotz N, Stutz MJ, PouUkakos D, Heeb P, Muller P, Bernard A, Gmilr R, Hooker T (2008) A micro-solid oxide fuel cell system as battery replactanenL J Power Sources 177 123—130... 

Spendelow J, Marcinkoski J, Papageorgopoulos D (2012) Micro CHP fuel cell system targets. U.S. Department of Energy. www.hydrogen. enerygy.gov... 

KOTsgaard AR, Nielsen MP, Kaer SK (2008) Part two control of a novel HT-based micro combined heat and power fuel cell system. Int J Hydrogen Energy 33 1921-1931... 

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