Xingwu Wang, Bigang Min, Huihui Duan, and Art J. Peterson, 2002, Modifications of Fuel Processing Techniques for Fuel Cell Applications, Fifth European Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Forum, Proceedings (Joep Huijsmans, ed.), European Fuel Cell Forum, POB 99-CH-5452 Oberrohrdoft/Switzerland (2002).

Energy Research

Environmental Impact of Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems: Air Quality, Noise Reduction, and Industrial Ecology

Investigator: Dr. Xingwu Wang

Objectives:

The proposal's broad, long-term objectives are:

1. Study environmental impact of a fuel cell power generation system for residential and commercial applications (10 KW or less);
2. Develop a clean and quiet electrical power generation unit;
3. Utilize the fuel resources which are abundant in North America;
4. Study fuels and fuel cell systems in the context of industrial ecology.

The specific aims of the project are:

1. Develop a fuel processor subsystem for the fuel cell power generation system, which converts the natural gas to hydrogen without generating carbon-oxygen compounds such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide;
2. Decompose methane into hydrogen and solid carbon without production of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;
3. Develop a reliable PLC control subsystem;
4. Test and optimize an integrated fuel cell power generation unit utilizing the newly developed subsystems;
5. Study the impact of the fuel cell system on air quality, noise pollution in comparison with other combustion-based technologies;
6. Assess the life cycle of the fuel cell system and incorporate designed recyclability into its components.

Approach: Experimental approach to be used: 1. In order to study the environmental impact of a fuel-cell/fuel processor system, gas emission rates and noise levels will be measured; 2. To develop a reliable fuel processor, temperatures, pressures, and flow rates will be measured; 3. To develop a suitable control configuration, both hardware and software will be redesigned and tested.

Expected Results: 1. The environmental impact of a fuel cell system will be assessed; 2. A fuel processor will be redesigned; 3. An appropriate controller will be redesigned; 4. An integrated power generation unit will be redesigned; 5. A quality assurance program will be developed.

Estimated Improvement: 1. Environmental impact data will be obtained with regarding to the fuel processor and the integrated power generation system; 2. In relation to the industrial ecology, problems of decarbonization, materials flow, monitoring devices, and environmentally conscious product design will be addressed; 3. The integrated power generation system will have low emission of harmful gases and will have low noise level.

Publications

Xingwu Wang, Bigang Min, Huihui Duan, and Art J. Peterson, 2002, Modifications of Fuel Processing Techniques for Fuel Cell Applications, Fifth European Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Forum, Proceedings (Joep Huijsmans, ed.), European Fuel Cell Forum, POB 99-CH-5452 Oberrohrdoft/Switzerland (2002). Poster presented at the forum.

CEER is funded in large part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

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