PHY 4080U – Hydrogen-Based Energy Systems and Fuel Cells

This course explores hydrogen as an energy carrier and its conversion in hydrogen fuel cells. The focus is on polymer electrolyte fuel cells but the course includes a brief discussion of phosphoric acid, alkaline, and solid oxide fuel cells as well as other types of fuel sources, such as methanol or natural gas. The thermodynamic aspects of a hydrogen economy are discussed, encompassing production (reforming, electrolysis), storage (compression, solid matrix), transportation and usage in fuel cells. With regards to fuel cells, the main focus will be on general operating principles, electrochemistry, thermodynamics (efficiency, losses), and mass and heat transport phenomena, including two-phase flow. A general picture of i) current scientific challenges and ii) device modelling of fuel cells will emerge.
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 1020U, PHY 2050U