Fuel space applications

Probably the largest use of Ni is in the manuf of Monel metal, stainless steels, Ni-chrome resistance wire, in alloys for electronic and space applications, and as a catalyst (Raney Ni). It is also used as a fuel in pyrotechnics (Ref 2) and... 

ISPP imits are not the only micro device imits of interest for space applications micro fuel cells, compact cleanup units for water treatment, portable heating and cooling units and devices for chemical processing and mining are considered [91]. 

Finally, we have discussed the effect of incomplete Cj oxidation product formation for fuel cell applications and the implications of these processes for reaction modeling. While for standard DMFC applications, formaldehyde and formic acid formation will be negligible, they may become important for low temperature applications and for microstructured cells with high space velocities. For reaction modeling, we have particularly stressed the need for an improved kinetic data base, including kinetic data under defined reaction and transport conditions and kinetic measurements on the oxidation of Ci mixtures with defined amounts of formaldehyde and formic acid, for a better understanding of cross effects between the different reactants at an operating fuel cell anode. 

The reformate gas contains up to 12% CO for SR and 6 to 8% CO for ATR, which can be converted to H2 through the WGS reaction. The shift reactions are thermodynamically favored at low temperatures. The equilibrium CO conversion is 100% at temperatures below 200°C. However, the kinetics is very slow, requiring space velocities less than 2000 hr1. The commercial Fe-Cr high-temperature shift (HTS) and Cu-Zn low-temperature shift (LTS) catalysts are pyrophoric and therefore impractical and dangerous for fuel cell applications. A Cu/CeOz catalyst was demonstrated to have better thermal stability than the commercial Cu-Zn LTS catalyst [37], However, it had lower activity and had to be operated at higher temperature. New catalysts are needed that will have higher activity and tolerance to flooding and sulfur. 

Nickel—hydrogen batteries offer long cycle life that exceeds that of other maintenance-free secondary battery systems and accordingly makes it suitable for many space applications. Three types of separator materials have been used for aerospace Ni—H2 cells— asbestos (fuel-cell-grade asbestos paper), Zircar (untreated knit ZYK-15 Zircar cloth),and nylon. 

Fiber optic sensors are an alternative to thermocouples as embedded temperature distribution mapping sensors. As described in Section 2.2.7, McIntyre et al.104 developed two distinct fiber optic temperature probe technologies for fuel cell applications (free space probes and optical fiber probes). Both sensor technologies showed similar trends in fuel cell temperature and were also used to study transient conditions. 

Monitoring pollutants in a variety of composition ranges in motor vehicle and chemical process exhaust gases is a major area of research in pollution abatement technology. Low-temperature CO oxidation catalysts are needed for zero emission vehicles, CO gas sensors, selective oxidation of CO in H2 rich streams in fuel cell applications,1,2 and in closed-cycle C02 lasers used for remote sensing in space applications.3"5 Effective oxidation of CO during... 

Despite the intense activity [iii-x] of developing alkaline fuel cells on an industrial scale for vehicular and space applications, until a year ago none of the several types of fuel cells had reached the cost targets of systems for non-military or non-space applications. Practically all the commercially-marketed systems are mainly demonstrative. 

The fuel cells used in the space program in the 1960s and 1970s were very costly at 600,000-kW. Although some of this cost can be attributed to the high reliability manufacturing required for space application. The cost was far too high for most terrestrial power applications. 

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