LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with the fundamental know-how related to fuel cells and to the concept of distributed generation systems. The attention is mainly focused on thermodynamic theory and component performance. Fuel cells are presented putting emphasis on different technology types, hybrid system plant layouts, technological and environmental aspects. This course also proposes to provide students with basic knowledge and operative elements to design different small size systems (internal combustion engines, microturbines, stirling engines, fuel cells) for applications in distributed generation grids. For this part of the course, special attention is devoted to combined heat and power generation providing students with laboratory experiences.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The attendance and active participation at the proposed teaching activities (lessons and exercises) and the individual study will allow the student to:

- know the basic aspects related to different fuel cell types (performance and operative issues);

- know the characteristics of hybrid systems (plant solutions, performance, etc.);

- know the aspects related to hydrogen as energy vector;

- understand the distributed generation systems;

- apply the thermodynamic concepts to the performance calculations;

- identify and analyse the main plant components.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is composed of: 54 hours including classroom lessons, exercises and laboratory visits. The exercise hours will be carried out by the teacher with the following approach: summary introduction on the contents related to the classroom lessons and development of exercises. 1/2 seminars will be included considering external teachers (also from abroad).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Fuel cells (basic structure, brief history, technological status, cost considerations); fuel cell types (polymeric, alkaline, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, solid oxide); fuel cell electrochemistry (ideal and losses).
• Fuel cells: influence of main operative properties (pressure and temperature), materials, performance, fuel processing (external and internal reforming).
• Hybrid systems with high temperature fuel cells (MCFC; SOFC).
• Distributed generation systems: basic aspects, microturbines and stirling engines.
• Distributed generation systems: co-generation and tri-generation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the slides used during the lessons and other teaching materials will be available on aul@web. In general, lesson notes and the aul@web teaching materials are enough for the exam preparation.

The following books are suggested as support:

• Fuel Cell Handbook (Seventh Edition), US Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV (USA), 2004 (available on line).
• Ferrari M.L., Damo U.M., Turan A., Sanchez D., Hybrid Systems Based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Modelling and Design, Wiley, July 2017 (available in the library).
• R. Della Volpe, “Macchine”, Liguori Editore (available in the library).