A paraffin-fueled SOFC system design and integration

This paper addresses an integrated design of paraffin-reformer, gas separations and the electricity production with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The overall design consists of three modules. First module is a system of paraffin reformer. In this module, the paraffin feed stream is to send to a steam-reformer. In the second module, the gas separations method illustrated is the combination of a methane-permeable membrane with a pressure-swing adsorption (PSA). In the third module, the purified hydrogen is fed to the SOFC unit. To be energy efficient, this paraffin-fueled SOFC system is designed with the consideration of heat integration. The intent of this paper is to provide a possible, alternative way of cogeneration systems for refinery and petrochemical plants.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic pseudopolyamino acid‐containing ABC‐triblock copolymers and micellar characterizations

This study describes the synthesis of amphiphilic ABC‐triblock copolymers comprising a central pseudopoly(4‐hydroxy‐L ‐proline) segment and terminal hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether as well as hydrophobic poly(ε‐caprolactone) blocks. Differential scanning calorimetry, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography are used to characterize the copolymers. The thermal properties (T_g and T_ms) of the triblock copolymers depend on the composition of polymers. Larger amounts of ε‐CL incorporated into the macromolecular backbone increased T_g and T_ms. Fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering are utilized to investigate their micellar characteristics in the aqueous phase. Observations showed a higher critical micelle concentration with higher hydrophilic components in the copolymers. The micelle exhibited a core‐shell‐corona and/or vesicle shape, and the average size was less than 300 nm. Drug entrapment efficiency and drug loading of micelles depending on the composition of block polymers are also described. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Experimental simulation on the integration of solid oxide fuel cell and micro-turbine generation system

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is characterized in high performance and high temperature exhaust, and it has potential to reach 70% efficiency if combined with gas turbine engine (GT). Because the SOFC is in developing stage, it is too expensive to obtain. This paper proposes a feasibility study by using a burner (Comb A) to simulate the high temperature exhaust gas of SOFC. The second burner (Comb B) is connected downstream of Comb A, and preheated hydrogen is injected to simulate the condition of sequential burner (SeqB). A turbocharger and a water injection system are also integrated in order to simulate the situation of a real SOFC/GT hybrid system. The water injection system is used to simulate the water mist addition at external reformer.     

Flow patterns and velocity fields in two-dimensional thin slice panel with flow-corrective insert

An experimental two-dimensional (2-D) thin slice panel for studying flow patterns of fine silica sand was designed and manufactured. As supplier of sand was not known at that time, flow properties of the silica sand were assessed without shear tests. A preliminary design of plane-flow hopper of the experimental 2-D panel was assumed to be close to the mass flow conditions. Sand was circulated in the experimental panel to study the steady state flow. Tests of flow patterns suggested typical funnel-flow patterns with stagnant zones in the hopper and in the vertical part of the panel. Stagnant zones near the bottom of the hopper indicated insufficient width of the hopper outlet. Shear tests for estimation of flow properties of silica sand were carried out additionally and two methods of how to transform the funnel flow of sand to the mass flow were followed up; (a) existing 2-D panel was retrofitted with flow-corrective element, and (b) the width of outlet in existing experimental panel was widen into the size, calculated according to mass flow conditions. Both modifications were proven to be successful and the last-in first-out funnel flow was transformed into first-in first-out mass flow of sand. Velocities of individual tracer particles were measured during mass flow and velocity field was evaluated. Velocity profile of particles in the vicinity of flow-corrective insert was studied in detail.     

La0.8Sr0.2Mn1−xRuxO3−δ as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells

Oxides of La_0.8Sr_0.2Mn_1−xRu_xO_3−δ (LSMR) (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.0) were prepared to fabricate cathodes in solid oxide fuel cells. The crystal structure changed from trigonal (x = 0 or 0.25) to a mixture of trigonal and orthorhombic (x = 0.5) and to orthorhombic (x = 0.75 or 1.0). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis after electrochemical testing indicated that the relative concentrations of Ru⁴⁺ to Ru⁶⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ to Mn²⁺ influence the performance of a single cell. The transformation from Ru⁴⁺ to Ru⁶⁺ releases two electrons but that from Mn⁴⁺ to Mn²⁺ creates two electron holes (an oxygen vacancy). The relative concentrations in LSMR were determined using the stoichiometric ratio (x) of Ru, and then, the concentrations of electrons and electron holes for influencing the cathode electrochemical catalytic reactivity were estimated. x = 0.25 represented the better cell performance, and Ru may stabilize the LSMR grain size during electrochemical testing.     

Thermal stress analysis of planar solid oxide fuel cell stacks: Effects of sealing design

A three-dimensional multi-cell model based on a prototypical, planar solid oxide fuel cell (pSOFC) stack design using compliant mica-based seal gaskets was constructed in this study to perform comprehensive thermal stress analyses by using a commercial finite element analysis (FEA) code. Effects of the applied assembly load on the thermal stress distribution in the given integrated pSOFC stack with such a compressive sealing design were characterized. A comparison was made with a previous study for a similar comprehensive multi-cell pSOFC stack model but using only a rigid type of glass-ceramic sealant instead. Simulation results indicate that stress distributions in the components such as positive electrode-electrolyte-negative electrode (PEN) plate, PEN-supporting window frame, nickel mesh, and interconnect were mainly governed by the thermal expansion mismatch rather than by the applied compressive load. An applied compressive load of 0.6 MPa could eliminate the bending deformation in the PEN-frame assembly plate leading to a well joined structure. For a greater applied load, the critical stresses in the glass-ceramic and mica sealants were increased to a potential failure level. In this regard, a 0.6 MPa compressive load was considered an optimal assembly load. Changing the seal between the connecting metallic PEN-supporting frame and interconnect from a rigid type of glass-ceramic sealant to a compressive type of mica gasket would significantly influence the thermal stress distribution in the PEN plate. The critical stress in the PEN was favorably decreased at room temperature but considerably increased at operating temperature due to such a change in sealing design. Such differences in the stress distribution could be ascribed to the differences in the constrained conditions at the interfaces of adjacent components under various sealing designs.     

Synthesis functional poly(carbonate‐b‐ester) copolymers and micellar characterizations

Functional poly(carbonate‐b‐ester)s were synthesized in buck by ring‐opening polymerization of the carbonate (TMC, MBC, or BMC) with tert‐butyl N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) carbamate as an initiator, and then with ε‐CL (or ε‐BCL) comonomer. Subsequently, the PMMC‐b‐PCL with pendent carboxyl groups and the PTMC‐b‐PHCL with pendent hydroxyl groups were obtained by catalytic debenzylation. DSC analysis indicated that only one T_g at an intermediate temperature the T_gs of the two polymer blocks. A decrease T_g was observed when an increase contents of ε‐CL incorporated into the copolymers. In contrast, two increased T_ms were observed with increasing PCL content. The block copolymers formed micelle in aqueous phase with critical micelle concentrations (cmcs) in the range of 2.23–14.6 mg/L and with the mean hydrodynamic diameters in the range of 100–280 nm, depending on the composition of copolymers. The drug entrapment efficiency and hydrolytic degradation behavior of micelle were also evaluated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

A simplified approach to predict part temperature and minimum “safe” cycle time

The largest component of the injection molding cycle is the cooling time. Thus it is highly desirable, to be able to predict what its minimum acceptable value can be. This is becoming even more important with increased competition from regions where the labor cost is low. In an injection molding operation, the mold thermal state changes from its initial value until a quasi steady state is reached. The minimum required cooling time increases with continuous molding until a steady state value is achieved. Improving the mold thermal design will decrease the cooling time thus reducing total cycle time. The overall goal of this work is to develop a simple reliable method to predict a minimum safe cycle time for steady production. In this article, we discuss software capable of simulating the thermal state of the part and mold for multiple injection molding cycles while balancing simulation time with results accuracy. Three case studies are presented, one done in our labs and two on‐site at an automotive manufacturing facility. The three case studies are used to evaluate the ability of the software to predict part surface temperature for continuous molding. We also discuss how this software can be used as the basis to establish the minimum safe cycle time. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Three-dimensional numerical modeling on high pressure membrane reactors for high temperature water-gas shift reaction

This study presents a three-dimensional numerical model that simulates the H₂ production from coal-derived syngas via a water-gas shift reaction in membrane reactors. The reactor was operated at a temperature of 900 °C, the typical syngas temperature at gasifier exit. The effects of membrane permeance, syngas composition, reactant residence time, sweep gas flow rate and steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio on reactor performance were examined. Using CO conversion and H₂ recovery to characterize the reactor performance, it was found that the reactor performance can be enhanced using higher sweep gas flow rate, membrane permeance and S/C ratio. However, CO conversion and H₂ recovery limiting values were found when these parameters were further increased. The numerical results also indicated that the reactor performance degraded with increasing CO₂ content in the syngas composition.