Generation of green hydrogen using self-sustained regenerative fuel cells: Opportunities and challenges

The ever-increasing energy demand, depleting fossil fuel reserves, and rising temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions have necessitated the transition towards the generation of green and clean energy through renewable energy sources. Solar energy is one such renewable energy source that has received significant attention owing to its abundance and inexhaustibility. However, solar energy alone cannot replace fossil fuels in the energy portfolio. There exists a need to develop another clean energy source that can potentially act as an alternative to conventional fuels. Hydrogen proves to be an ideal candidate in this domain and can be sustainably generated by water electrolysis by powering the electrolyzer using solar energy. The hydrogen thus synthesized has net zero carbon emissions and is a suitable asset for decarbonizing the environment. This review encompasses the generation of hydrogen using PV-Electrolyzer systems and addresses the challenges associated with the same. Overcoming these drawbacks can ensure a strong position for hydrogen as an alternative fuel in the energy infrastructure. By employing electrolyzers that are fueled by renewable energy and then using that hydrogen to feed a fuel cell, this study aims to clarify the potential and constraints of producing green hydrogen. Since this area of research has not yet been fully investigated, a review article that enables and encourages academics to develop original solutions is urgently needed.     

Exploration of the oxygen transport behavior in non-precious metal catalyst-based cathode catalyst layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

High cost has undoubtedly become the biggest obstacle to the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), in which Pt-based catalysts employed in the cathodic catalyst layer (CCL) account for the major portion of the cost. Although non-precious metal catalysts (NPMCs) show appreciable activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the performance of fuel cells based on NPMCs remains unsatisfactory compared to those using Pt-based CCL. Therefore, most studies on NPMC-based fuel cells focus on developing highly active catalysts rather than facilitating oxygen transport. In this work, the oxygen transport behavior in CCLs based on highly active Fe-N-C catalysts is comprehensively explored through the elaborate design of two types of membrane electrode structures, one containing low-Pt-based CCL and NPMC-based dummy catalyst layer (DCL) and the other containing only the NPMC-based CCL. Using Zn-N-C based DCLs of different thickness, the bulk oxygen transport resistance at the unit thickness in NPMC-based CCL was quantified via the limiting current method combined with linear fitting analysis. Then, the local and bulk resistances in NPMC-based CCLs were quantified via the limiting current method and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Results show that the ratios of local and bulk oxygen transport resistances in NPMC-based CCL are 80% and 20%, respectively, and that an enhancement of local oxygen transport is critical to greatly improve the performance of NPMC-based PEMFCs. Furthermore, the activity of active sites per unit in NPMC-based CCLs was determined to be lower than that in the Pt-based CCL, thus explaining worse cell performance of NPMC-based membrane electrode assemblys (MEAs). It is believed that the development of NPMC-based PEMFCs should proceed not only through the design of catalysts with higher activity but also through the improvement of oxygen transport in the CCL.     

Influence of pressure losses on compressor performance in a pressurized fuel cell air supply system for airplane applications

Low ambient pressures at elevated flight altitudes lead to power losses in fuel cell powered aircrafts. As countermeasure ambient air can be pressurized with a suitable fuel cell air supply system. In this study the influence of low ambient pressures and pressure losses within the system on the performance of two turbo compressors and the resulting stack power are examined theoretically and the findings validated experimentally. Results show that decreasing ambient pressures and pressure losses in front and after the compressor reduce the maximum pressure from 2.4 to 1.6 bar(a) in the examined system. Air compression may require a significant share of the fuel cell stack power and the maximum system power is reduced from 54 to 41 kW. For air pressures higher than 1.8 bar(a) the fuel cell stack power gain due to pressurization is found to be cancelled out by the increasing power required for air compression.     

Treatment of dark fermentative H2 production effluents by microbial fuel cells: A tutorial review on promising operational strategies and practices

Deriving biohydrogen from dark fermentation is a practically suitable pathway for scaling-up and envisaged mass production. However, a common issue with these systems is the incomplete conversion of feedstock as a result of which, a process effluent with notable organic strength is left behind. The main components of dark fermentation effluents are volatile fatty acids that can be utilized by integrated applications involving bioelectrochemical systems, particularly microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to generate electrical energy. In this work, MFCs deployed to treat dark fermentative H₂ production effluents are assessed to take a look into the current standing of this specific research area and address what MFC design and operating features (reactor configuration, mode of operation, anode surface and reactor size) seem favorable towards improved working efficiency (e.g. power density, Coulombic efficiency, COD removal). Furthermore, promising technological implementations are outlined and suggestions, conclusions for future studies for this field are given.     

Interface engineering of bi-layer semiconductor SrCoSnO3-δ-CeO2-δ heterojunction electrolyte for boosting the electrochemical performance of low-temperature ceramic fuel cell

A comparative study is performed to investigate the electrochemical performance of the low-temperature ceramic fuel cells (CFCs) utilizing two different novel electrolytes. First, a perovskite semiconductor SrCo_0.3Sn_0.7O_3-δ was used as an electrolyte in CFCs due to its modest ionic conductivity (0.1 S/cm) and demonstrated an acceptable power density of 360 mW/cm² at 520 °C. The performance of the cell was primarily limited due to the moderate ionic transport in the electrolyte. In order to improve the ionic conductivity, a new strategy of using a novel bi-layer electrolyte concept consist of SrCo_0.3Sn_0.7O_3-δ and CeO_2-δ in CFCs. These bi-layers of two electrolytes have successfully established heterojunction which considerably improved the ionic conductivity (0.2 S/cm) and enhance the open-circuit voltage of the cell from 0.98 V to 1.001 V. Moreover, the CFCs utilizing bi-layer electrolyte have produced a remarkable power density of 672 mW/cm² at 520 °C. This enhancement of ionic conduction, power density and blockage of electron conduction in the bi-layer electrolyte was studied via band alignment mechanism based on proposed p-n heterojunction. Our work presents a promising methodology for developing advanced low-temperature CFC electrolytes.     

基于电化学阻抗法的质子交换膜燃料电池“三步活化法”机理研究

活化能够有效地发挥质子交换膜燃料电池膜电极的性能,"三步活化法"是其中一种比较理想的方法。为了研究"三步活化法"活化质子交换膜燃料电池的机理,利用电化学阻抗谱测试"三步活化法"过程中的膜电极阻抗,并建立等效电路模型拟合所得实验数据。结果表明,"三步活化法"可以有效降低欧姆阻抗、阳极法拉第阻抗、阴极法拉第阻抗以及阴极传质阻抗,这表明"三步活化法"有利于电子、质子、气体与水的传输通道的形成。     

丙酮-丁醇-乙醇(ABE)/汽油混合燃料对高速发动机性能影响的试验研究

以发动机4000r/min、节气门开度35%为试验工况,对纯汽油及不同掺混体积分数丙酮-丁醇-乙醇(acetone-butanol-ethanol,ABE)与汽油混合物开展了不同点火提前角和喷油量的试验研究。分析了不同ABE混合比、点火提前角和过量空气系数对发动机性能的影响,并对每种燃料发动机最大功率工况的性能参数进行了比较。结果表明：点火提前角和过量空气系数相同时,混合燃料中ABE含量越高,燃油流量越大,发动机功率越大,有效热效率越高;燃油流量的总热量增大和热-功转换效率提高是促使发动机功率增大的主要原因;随ABE掺混比增加,NO比排放明显降低,CO比排放略有增加,碳氢化合物比排放先增后减。浓混合气工况增加ABE含量比在当量空燃比状态下增加ABE含量,发动机的有效热效率增大更明显,发动机的NO比排放降低更加明显。研究表明高速汽油机掺混ABE燃料具有较好的应用前景。     

积分分离PID算法在共轨压力控制中的应用研究

基于新型高压共轨柴油机对瞬态轨压控制性能提出更高要求,而传统PID控制算法存在标定困难、超调量大、响应及稳定时间长的问题,提出了一种积分分离PID控制算法。试验验证表明:该算法有效改善了传统PID在起动、结束或轨压大幅度变化时响应时间长、系统超调量大、标定困难的问题,提高了系统的安全性。目前该算法已应用于某国产柴油机产品样机的ECU中。     

Study on the growth of platinum nanowires as cathode catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The platinum nanowires have been verified to be a promising catalyst to promote the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.In this paper,accurately controlled growth of nanowires in a carbon matrix is achieved for reducing Pt loading.The effects of formic acid concentration and reaction temperature on the morphology and size of the Pt nanowires,as well as their electrochemical performances in a single cell,are investigated.The results showed that the increase in the formic acid concentration results in a volcano trend with the length of Pt nanowires.With increasing reduction temperature,the diameter of Pt nanowires increases while Pt particles evolve from one-dimensional to zero-dimensional up to 40°C.A mechanism of the Pt nanowires growth is proposed.The optimized Pt nanowires electrode exhibits a power density(based on electrochemical active surface area)79%higher than conventional Pt/C one.The control strategy obtained contributes to the design and control of novel nanostructures in nano-synthesis and catalyst applications.     

某型涡桨发动机停车后复燃故障分析与解决

本文针对外场发现的1台涡桨××发动机停车后复燃故障,对故障部位结构原理进行了分析,建立故障树,经飞参判读复查、燃油系统分析、燃油供油调节装置分解检查,初步确定故障原因为接停车电磁活门的导线绝缘层存在裂纹。通过故障机理分析及故障实验验证,准确定位故障原因,采取有效措施对故障进行归零。最后对外场使用的安全性进行了分析,并制定了纠正措施。