Print this page Fuel Cells- New Energy for the Future
Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.
Course Outline
This course will review the design, operation, and theory of fuel cells, with an emphasis on the hydrogen based fuel cells in operation today.
More people are driving more cars today than ever before, more than 200 million vehicles are on the road in the U.S. alone. But the car has contributed to our air and water pollution and forced us to rely on imported oil from the Middle East, helping to create a significant trade imbalance. Today many people think fuel cell technology will play a pivotal role in a new technological renaissance, just as the internal combustion engine vehicle revolutionized life at the beginning of the 20th century. Such innovation would have a global environmental and economic impact.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cells represent a radically different approach to energy conversion, one that could replace conventional power generation technologies like engines and turbines in applications such as automobiles and small power plants.
This course is
based entirely on Fuel Cells Green Power - Publication LA-UR-99-3231,
published by Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract with the US Department
of Energy. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is
designed to enhance the understanding of course materials. You will be quizzed
on the attached document in its entirety.
Learning Objective
At the completion of this course the student will have reviewed and become familiar the following topics concerning fuel cell technology:
- Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell;
- Electrochemistry of fuel cells;
- Processing Hydrocarbon Fuels into Hydrogen;
- Reformate/air fuel cell "engine" utilizing liquid methanol as fuel;
- Direct methanol fuel cell technology;
- Regenerative Fuel Cell;
- Alkaline fuel cells;
- Phosphoric acid fuel cells;
- Molten carbonate fuel cells;
- Solid oxide fuel cells; and
- zero emission
vehicles.
Intended Audience
This course would be very informative for engineers or architects who are interested in learning renewable energy, fuel cell technology, or zero emission vehicles.
Course
Introduction
This course will review the design, operation, and theory of fuel cells, with an emphasis on the hydrogen based fuel cells in operation today.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cells represent a radically different approach to energy conversion, one that could replace conventional power generation technologies like engines and turbines in applications such as automobiles and small power plants.
Expanded use of
hydrogen as an energy carrier for America could help address concerns about
energy security, global climate change, and air quality. Hydrogen can be derived
from a variety of domestically available primary sources, including fossil fuels,
renewables, and nuclear power. Another key benefit is that the by-products of
conversion are generally benign for human health and the environment. Despite
these compelling benefits, realization of a hydrogen economy faces multiple
challenges. Unlike gasoline and natural gas, hydrogen has no existing, large-scale
supporting infrastructure-and building one will require major investment. Although
hydrogen production, storage, and delivery technologies are currently in commercial
use by the chemical and refining industries, existing hydrogen storage and conversion
technologies are still too costly for widespread use in energy applications.
Course Content
This course is based entirely on Fuel Cells Green Power- Publication
LA-UR-99-3231, published by Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract with
the US Department of Energy.
The link to the course materials is as follows:
Fuel Cells Green Power- Publication LA-UR-99-3231
You need to open
or download above document to study this course.
Course Summary
At the completion of this class the design professional should understand the principles, construction, and operation of fuel cells.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
