Portable Hydrogen Energy Systems: Fuel Cells and Storage Fundamentals and Applications

Portable Hydrogen Energy Systems covers the basics of portable fuel cells, their types, possibilities for fuel storage, in particular those for hydrogen as fuel, and their potential application. Its authors explore the fundamentals of fuel cells, such as electrochemistry, types, materials and components, followed with a chapter on the particularities of their use in portable devices, with focus on proton exchange membrane (PEM) type. The fuel storage for these cells, in particular hydrogen storage, is described in a third chapter, with the analysis of current possibilities. The portable fuel cell systems are examined in the following chapter, which covers auxiliary elements required for operation, possibilities for miniaturization, systems efficiency, durability and recyclability. A prospective study for this technology is included at the end, providing overview of current research trends in materials, devices and systems. This chapter analyzes realistically the uses and applications in which portable fuel cell systems powered with hydrogen could be a solid competitor for batteries.

Engineers and developers of portable applications and electricity will find in this book information on fundamentals and possibilities of portable hydrogen fuel cells, including costs and market information, for their planning, modeling, development and deployment.

Its exploration of future trends and current challenges is useful for fuel cell and hydrogen energy researchers who need a reference to identify knowledge gaps and get up to speed when starting a new line of research in the field. Graduate students and lecturers have in this volume a complementary resource in general hydrogen and fuel cell courses or in specialized courses about portable systems.

Presents a current view of the fundamentals and possibilities of portable hydrogen fuel cells, compared with other market solutions, such as batteriesExamines the applications where portable hydrogen fuel cell technology is a viable solutionExplores future trends and needs in terms of materials, components, and systems, to improve the possibilities to make hydrogen fuel cells competitive and reliable for future portable applications

Section 1: Introduction Why hydrogen PEM fuel cells for portable applications?

Section 2: Portable hydrogen PEM fuel cells Fundamentals: materials and components Modelling of portable fuel cells

Section 3: Portable hydrogen storage Metal hydrides. Modelling of metal hydrides to be operated in a fuel cell On-demand starch hydrogen generation with application to PEM fuel cells

Section 4: Other fuel cell types for portable applications Micro fuel cell designs for portable applications Micro Fuel Cells based on Silicon Materials

Section 5: Current state of the art of portable PEMFC technology: indicators analysis Current state of the art of portable PEMFC technology: indicators analysis

Section 6: Industry development Development and applications of portable hydrogen PEM fuel cells

Section 7: Research trends Research Trends