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The device is aimed at working temperatures below 170 C. The development of this device would provide an important opportunity for people to have a quality of energy from a variety of sources. Currently the mechanisms of thermal energy conversion (exposed to temperature) are nonexistent or are very expensive there. The development of this device should provide people with a useful tool to solve many problems related to energy. This document sets out the principles of operation, construction technologies for their study and references to assist in their development. This document is intended for college students, specialists and those who are interested in developing a device of this kind.
Fuel cells are aimed to replace traditional combustion engine Otto cycle or Diesel cycle. In favor of fuel cells can exhibit achievable efficiences. The efficience of diesel engines around 35% for small engines and up to 50% for large motors. The efficience of fuel cells ranging from 40% to 60% depending on the type of technology However the technology of fuel cells is not yet mature to compete with internal combustion engines due to the half life of the fuel cells. Currently the average life of a fuel cell designed to fulfill the tasks of a diesel engine just reaches 20% on the average life of a diesel engine. The device that is exposed below is possible to build thanks to advances made in this field.
3 Introduction
This paper proposes to build a device that converts thermal energy from any source into electrical energy directly. This device would have the following characteristics: No moving parts. It is robust and compact. Work with temperatures below 200 C. It is a simple system that is easy to construct and has a light maintenance. This system allows has features like: It can be attached to the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine to recover energy from the flue gases. Can be coupled to any heat source such as a cogeneration system. You can build efficient systems for electrical energy conversion from natural gas burning in isolated systems for pipelines, oil pipelines, etc.. This device is based on electrical production processes of a fuel cell.
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Cold H2 H+
* Nickel porous elements. The central element, yellow, is a cation transport membrane "Nafion". El funcionamiento es el siguiente: 1. Hydrogen (H2) enters into a heated chamber where temperature and pressure is acquired. 2. The hot hydrogen in contact with nickel. Hydrogen is adhered to the wall of nickel in the form of H +. Hydrogen electrons are located in the electronic network of nickel. 3. The pressure and temperature of the hot chamber to push the H + that are attached to the wall of the nickel to the Nafion membrane. 4. The Nafion membrane only allows the passage of H +, the electrons have to go through an external circuit. (Here is where we get the electricity in the form of electrical current) 5. Driven by the pressure and temperature of the hot reservoir H + reach the element nickel is in the cold. 6. Due to the drop in temperature and the thrust of the H + coming from the hot the H + that has cooled recovers its electrons and becomes gaseous H2. 7. The H2 gas is used again by a small compressor to start the cycle again.
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Fase Slida
Fase lquida
Direct Thermal Electric Conversion Device Presin Crtica: 12.98 bar Densidad Crtica : 30.09 kg/m3 Temperatura del punto triple: -259.3 C Presin del punto triple : 0.072 bar Densidad del gas (1.013 bar en el punto de ebullicin) : 1.312 kg/m3 Densidad del Gas (1.013 bar y 15 C (59 F)) : 0.085 kg/m3 Factor de Compresibilidad (Z) (1.013 bar y 15 C (59 F)) : 1.001 Gravedad especfica (aire = 1) (1.013 bar y 21 C (70 F)) : 0.0696 Volumen Especfico (1.013 bar y 21 C (70 F)) : 11.986 m3/kg Capacidad calorfica a presin constante (Cp) (1 bar y 25 C (77 F)) : 0.029 kJ/(mol.K) Capacidad calorfica a volumen constante (Cv) (1 bar y 25 C (77 F)) : 0.021 kJ/(mol.K) Razn de calores especficos (Gama:Cp/Cv) (1 bar y 25 C (77 F)) : 1.384259 Viscosidad (1.013 bar y 15 C (59 F)) : 0.0000865 Poise Conductividad Trmica (1.013 bar y 0 C (32 F)) : 168.35 mW/(m.K)
Punto triple
Fase gaseosa
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figu. 2 Diagram of Vant Hoff for some nickel metal compounds[Zttel et al. 2005]
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This table shows at the same temperature as the absorption requires a higher pressure than the desorption. Thus in the device that raises the hot chamber pressure must be greater than the pressure in the cold. This was already indicated by the statement and the proposed device. Thermal irreversibilities in the hot chamber. In the hot chamber is supposed to be a heat inflow is not expected to have much heat losses estimated in this study than in the hot chamber no energy losses. In the hot chamber will establish a balance on the surface of the nickel compound and the temperature of the hot chamber of hydrogen desorption and absorption. This balance will be clearly absorption since there is a flow of hydrogen through the crystal lattice of the nickel compound to
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the proton conducting membrane (for example Nafion membrane). To that hydrogen will move through the crystal structure is necessary energy consumption. Thermal Irreversibility 1: Here is the first planned energy loss. This energy loss should be minimized by this layer of material as thin as possible. When the hydrogen reaches the metal-hydrogen membrane energy consumption need to switch to metal ion H + to ion H + free (stabilized in the polymer network). This process is not spontaneous energy required since there is a separation between the proton H + and electrons. But this energy is useful because it is at this point that we get the pressure energy conversion to electricity. Once the ion H + is within the polymeric network has to move to the new interface membrane metal. Thermal Irreversibility 2: Here is the second planned energy irreversibility. The ion energy need to advance to the next stage. This is called membrane resistance. This resistance must be minimized using a thin membrane or thin as possible.
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Once the H + ion reaches the interface membrane - metal ion passes into the crystalline structure of the metal spontaneously because at this point is again proton with electrons and thus is part of the electrical circuit. Therefore not expected to have an irreversibility temperature here. Hydrogen once again reached the nickel compound must advance by the crystal structure to the new metal-gas interface. Irreversibility Like 3 (same as 1): Here is the third planned energy loss. This energy loss should be minimized by this campaign material as thin as possible. Once the gas is in the gas-metal interface will cause an absorption-desorption equilibrium which is distinctly surface desorption pressure as this chamber is maintained at a lower pressure than the hot chamber. Hydrogen gas that passes will phase at a high temperature (for the whole membrane metal + Nickel + nickel metal will be at a high temperature). However desorption reaction is endothermic, and this will help cool the metal-gas interface of the cold chamber. However even the released gas will be very hot and must be cooled by contact with a heat exchanger at room temperature. Thermal irreversibility # 4. The hot gas must be cooled to lower blood pressure and reuse it in the
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cycle. This heat loss can not be minimized but is linked to the mass of hydrogen is used during the process.
In the hot chamber there is a separation between the nickel element is hot and the cold block of stainless steel. This separation is to minimize or eliminate heat loss by conduction. However apart from the heat irreversibility number 4 there is a small energy loss by another convention and radiation. Thermal irreversibility No. 5. Energy losses in the hot chamber between the nickel element and the heat exchanger by convection and radiation. These losses can be minimized or eliminated making sure that there is a laminar flow of hydrogen gas from nickel element and heat exchanger.
5.2 Estimation in watts * hours of energy losses, and efficiences useful work.
The calculations will be done by assuming that the hydrogen mass flow rate is 1 kg / hour. Thermal irreversibilities 1 associated to friction of hydrogen atoms by the crystal structure. As we know the friction converts kinetic energy into heat. The heat generated by the friction returns to the system (the system is isolated). Consequently no energy losses occur because the heat returned to the system. Obviously this will depend on the constructive solution. And while the above statement is not perfect if that applies to these estimates. Thermal irreversibility, = 0 (watios hora). The thermal irreversibilities 2 and 3 is associated with the friction of the hydrogen atoms in the crystal structure. As we know the friction converts kinetic energy into heat. In this case the heat generated to the system returns but is directed to the cold. The heat generated in these locations does not reverse at the point at which the electric energy is generated by heat. It is passed in the metal-membrane. Thermal Irreversibility 2 = 0,1 ohmios * 0,5 Amperios = 0,025 watios (for each cm). It means 1340 watios hour in losses. Thermal irreversibility 3 = 1340 watios (It is not known this energy losses but it sure is less than the thermal irreversibility # 2.) The heat lost by cooling hydrogen (1 kg) of 150 C to 25 C is 500 watts * hours (approximately). Therefore this would be heat irreversibility No. 4. irreversibilidad trmica n 4 = 500 watios hora thermal irreversibility No. 5 depends entirely on the constructive solution. So let's assume that the
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constructive solution is perfect and for this study we assume that energy losses in this case are zero. Irreversibilidad trmica n 5 = 0 watios hora.
In these cases the membranes are immersed in a solution where an all-enveloping liquid (water) and some ions which are in solution. This membrane system in solution is very similar to our case, because H + ions are involved in a solid matrix rather than liquid. If we do this extrapolation we can expect that potential obtained in each cell is 120 mV maximum. (When the ion enters the membrane has a potential saving of 60 mV, to make this happen is to absorb energy into potential energy converting system. After ion must leave the membrane into the crystal lattice. Spontaneous process is a potential of 60 mV. So for this case the total potential
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available is 60 +60 = 120 mV). 26800 amperios * 0,12 V = 3216 watios hora = useful work maximum (Hydrogen mass flow of 1 kg/hour). The 120 mV is for the case where the ion mobility is maximized. In our case it is obvious that the ion mobility is limited. Due to the small size of the hydrogen proton is expected that the yield is high. So assuming a mobility of 0.5 on a scale of 0-1 is expected at least that useful work is 1500 watt hours. Expected work = 1500 watios hora Calor total puesto en juego = 500 watios hora + 1500 watios hora. + 1340 + 1340 = 2180
6 Efficiences
Estimated efficiency as conservative criteria for the device. = 32%. Maximum theoretical Efficiency = 86% (if there were ohmic losses) Actual maximum efficiency = 63% (including ohmic losses and other technological limitations).
7 Bibliographic references
Although here are some references the reader can find all the information in books and scientific publications related to the following topics: Electrochemical processes associated with ion exchange membranes. Absorption and desorption processes of hydrogen gas in solid matrices. Metal hydrides. Construction and technology of fuel cells and low temperature polymer. 1) Y. Tanaka, Ion exchange membranes: Fundamentals and Applications, Elsevier Science, 2007. 2) Nafion and modified-Nafion membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells: An overview A K SAHU, S PITCHUMANI, P SRIDHAR and A K SHUKLA*
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Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi 630 006, India 3 ) Ionic Conductivity of an Extruded Nafion 1100 EW Series of Membranes S. Slade,a,d S. A. Campbell,a T. R. Ralph,b,* and F. C. Walshc,*,z 4 ) Universidad Carlos III de Madrid . Escuela Politcnica Superior . Departamento de Ingeniera Elctrica PROYECTO FIN DE CARRERA Descripcin y Modelado de una Pila de Combustible de Membrana de Intercambio Protnico Autor: Antonio Mayanda Aguirre Directora: Luca Gaucha Bab
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