Fuel Cell Systems Explained

Advanced Battery Technology,  Jan 2002  by Coffey, Brendan

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Fuel Cell Systems Explained by James Larminie and Andrew Dicks John Wiley & Sons, 2000

British authors James Larminie of Oxford Brooke University and Andrew Dicks of BG Technologies have done an excellent job of distilling what is important from all that might be said about fuel cells into a single, very readable volume. It is clear that the authors understand the history, as well as the present state of the art, of fuel cell technology. Assistance from some of the major U.S. and European players in fuel cell development is acknowledged at the front of the book. This access has enabled them to provide a more complete description of the state of the art for practical systems, something that is not always easy to do in an intensely competitive technical field.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are now spent each year on fuel cell technology development. Fuel Cell Systems Explained, published in November 2000 by Wiley, is a useful reference for anyone working for an energy, transportation, or engineering company with ties to the emerging fuel cell industry.

Chapter 1 provides a concise description of the technology and its potential advantages. While the electrochemical aspects are well covered in the book, the authors emphasize throughout that fuel cells are not simply electrochemical stacks to be considered in isolation, but rather complex systems involving reactant flow, thermal management, and electrical conditioning.

Chapters 2 and 3 cover theoretical and operational efficiencies, laying down a solid quantitative foundation of fuel cell system physics and thermodynamics without an excess of theory. While the book does a good job of covering the fundamental principles of operation including important design equations, the writing style is almost conversational, and the book reads well.

The next three chapters describe the specific design characteristics and features of the major fuel cell classifications. PEM systems are given the most attention, but others are well treated. The book discusses the significant technical issues that remain to commercialize fuel cells as well as the approaches being taken to address these issues. Diagrams and photographs are clear and used well to support the text. (See figure.)

Chapter 7 covers potential fuels and fuel storage including, fossil, biomass, renewables, and the need for and methods of fuel processing.

Chapter 8 discusses the efficiencies and selection criteria for mechanical system components, including compressors, turbines, ejectors, fans, and pumps. The final chapter of the book covers system regulation and power conditioning, describing how inverters, electric motors, and batteries are combined to give optimal operating efficiencies.

Fuel Cell Systems Explained is well organized and rich in information without being repetitive. The authors provide a good selection of current references in each topic.

From the foreword to

Fuel Cell Systems Explained

by Dr. Gary Acres, OBE

Former Director of Research

Johnson Matthey PLC

During the last few years of the 20th century much changed to stimulate new and expanding interest in fuel cell technology. Increased numbers of people from disciplines ranging from chemistry through engineering to strategic analysis, not familiar with fuel cell technology, have needed to become involved. The need by such people for a single, comprehensive and up-to-date exposition of the technology and its applications has become apparent, and is amply provided for by for this book .............

While the fuel cell itself is the key component and an understanding of its features is essential, a practical fuel cell system requires the integration of the stack with fuel processing, heat exchange, power conditioning and control systems. The importance of each of these components and their integration is rightly emphasized in sufficient detail for the chemical and engineering disciplines to understand the system requirements of this novel technology ..........

This book offers those new to fuel cells a comprehensive, clear exposition and review to further their understanding, and also provides those familiar with the subject a convenient reference.

The book is available now from The Battery Bookstore, P.O. Box 650, Boalsburg, PA 16827, (814)466-6559, Fax: (814) 466-2777, www.7ms.com. The price is $110 plus Priority Mail shipping and handling. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express welcome.

by Brendan Coffey, Ph.D.

RBC Technologies

College Station, TX

Copyright Seven Mountains Scientific, Inc. Jan 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved