ME492 FUEL CELL FUNDAMENTALS
| Course Code: | 5690492 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 5.0 |
| Department: | Mechanical Engineering |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. İLKER TARI |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
- Understanding the difference between electrochemical and chemical reactions.
- Understanding the difference between fuel cell engines and heat engines.
- Ability to distinguish various fuel cell types and their uses in practical applications.
- Understanding the functions of generic fuel cell components.
- Ability to calculate enthalpy and Gibbs energy changes for electrochemical reactions.
- Ability to calculate maximum expected open circuit voltage.
- Ability to calculate thermal voltage.
- Ability to calculate Nernst potential and thermodynamical efficiency.
- Understanding the potential losses
- Ability to draw polarization curve for a generic fuel cell.
- Ability to estimate activation losses.
- Ability to estimate ohmic losses.
- Ability to estimate concentration losses.
- Understanding the electrolyte structure and ion transport in polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
- Understanding the electrolyte structure and ion transport in solid oxide fuel cells.
- Ability to carry out 1-D modeling of a PEFC.
- Understanding the importance of water management in PEFCs.
- Understanding the future directions in Fuel Cell research.
- Understanding the environmental importance of fuel cells in renewable energy systems and stationary applications.
Course Content
Mathematical modeling of fuel cell thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, charge transport and mass transport. Performance of real and ideal fuel cells. 1-D fuel model. Fuel cell types and systems. Fuel environmental impacts.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the difference between electrochemical and chemical reactions.
- Understanding the difference between fuel cell engines and heat engines.
- Ability to distinguish various fuel cell types and their uses in practical applications.
- Understanding the functions of generic fuel cell components.
- Ability to calculate enthalpy and Gibbs energy changes for electrochemical reactions.
- Ability to calculate maximum expected open circuit voltage.
- Ability to calculate thermal voltage.
- Ability to calculate Nernst potential and thermodynamical efficiency.
- Understanding the potential losses
- Ability to draw polarization curve for a generic fuel cell.
- Ability to estimate activation losses.
- Ability to estimate ohmic losses.
- Ability to estimate concentration losses.
- Understanding the electrolyte structure and ion transport in polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
- Understanding the electrolyte structure and ion transport in solid oxide fuel cells.
- Ability to carry out 1-D modeling of a PEFC.
- Understanding the importance of water management in PEFCs.
- Understanding the future directions in Fuel Cell research.
- Understanding the environmental importance of fuel cells in renewable energy systems and stationary applications.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Contribution |
| # | Program Outcomes | No | Yes |
| 1 | Ability to establish the relationship between mathematics, basic sciences and engineering sciences with engineering applications. | | ✔ |
| 2 | Ability to find and interpret information | | ✔ |
| 3 | Ability to follow the literature and technology related to his/her topic of
interest | ✔ | |
| 4 | Recognition of the need to keep oneself up to date in his/her profession | ✔ | |
| 5 | Possession of written and oral communication skills | ✔ | |
| 6 | Ability to conduct team work (within the discipline, inter-disciplinary,
multi-disciplinary) | ✔ | |
| 7 | Ability to produce original solutions | ✔ | |
| 8 | Use of scientific methodology in approaching and producing solutions to
engineering problems and needs | | ✔ |
| 9 | Openness to all that is new | ✔ | |
| 10 | Ability to conduct experiments | ✔ | |
| 11 | Ability to do engineering design | | ✔ |
| 12 | Awareness of engineering ethics, knowledge and adoption of its fundamental elements | ✔ | |
| 13 | Ability to take societal, environmental and economical considerations into account in professional activities | | ✔ |
| 14 | Possession of pioneering and leadership characteristics in areas related to the profession | ✔ | |
