Improving energy storage by PCM using hybrid nanofluid[(SWCNTs-CuO)/H_(2)O]and a helical(spiral)coil:Hybrid passive techniques

The aim of this study is the numerical analysis of the melting process of the phase change material(PCM)in a spiral coil.The space between the inner tube and outer shell is filled with RT-50 as PCM.Moreover,the hybrid nanofluid(with a carbon component)flows through the inner tube.The novelty of this work is to use different configurations of fin and different percentage of hybrid nanoparticles(SWCNTs-Cu O)on the PCM melting process.In the numerical model created by ANSYS-Fluent,the effect of various inlet temperatures is investigated.The results indicate that the extended surface created by extra fin has a dominant effect on melting time,so by adding the third fin,the melting time is reduced by 39.24%.The next most influential factor in PCM melting is the inlet temperature of the working fluid,so that 10°C increment of temperature result in the PCM melting time decreased by 35.41%.

Zeolite-assisted etherification of glycerol with butanol for biodiesel oxygenated additives production

This research was focused on the valorisation of glycerol,exploring the feasibility of an efficient route for oxygenated additives production based on its etherification with bio-butanol.A home-made BEA zeolite sample with a tuneable acidity has been proposed as the catalytic system,being tested in a stirred reactor under different etherification conditions.Although a reaction temperature as high as 200℃resulted to be beneficial in terms of glycerol conversion(-90%),only by operating at milder conditions the product selectivity to glycerol-ethers can be better controlled,in order to obtain a bio-fuel complying with the requirements for mixing with fossil diesel or biodiesel,without any need of purification from large amount of by-products.A comprehensive identification of all the compounds formed during the reaction was performed by a GC-MS analysis,on the basis of the complex network of consecutive and parallel reaction paths leading not only to the desired ethers,but also to many side products not detected in similar acid-catalyzed reactions in liquid phase and not available in the most used mass-spectra libraries.

Fuel cell performance assessment for closed-loop renewable energy systems

Fuel cells and electrolysis are promising candidates for future energy production from renewable energy sources. Usually, polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems run on hydrogen and air, while the most of electrolysis systems vent out oxygen as unused by-product. Replacing air with pure oxygen, fuel cell electrochemical performance, durability and system efficiency can be significantly increased with a further overall system simplification and increased reliability. This work, which represents the initial step for pure H;/O;polymer electrolyte fuel cell operation in closed-loop systems, focuses on performance validation of a single cell operating with pure H;/O;under different relative humidity（RH） levels, reactants stoichiometry conditions and temperature. As a result of this study, the most convenient and appropriate operative conditions for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack integrated in a closed loop system were selected.

Evaluation of hot pressing parameters on the electrochemical performance of MEAs based on Aquivion^(■) PFSA membranes

The membrane-electrodes assembly(MEA) is the core of the Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell(PEFC). It consists of a membrane, catalytic(CL) and gas diffusion layers(GDL). In order to manufacture MEAs with suitable performance, a hot-pressing procedure is generally used. The relevant parameters are the temperature, pressure and time of hot-pressing. Such variables need to be adjusted as a function of the type of ionomer used in the catalytic layer and membrane. In this study, an evaluation of the temperature of hot-pressing was carried out and its influence on MEA electrochemical performance was assessed. In particular, preparation trials of MEAs were carried out with reinforced experimental membranes based on Aquivion^■ short-side-chain PFSA(by Solvay Specialty Polymers). The membranes were coupled to gas diffusion electrodes, and MEAs were manufactured using different temperatures for the hot-pressing procedure in order to evaluate their influence on the electrochemical performance of PEFCs, in the temperature range of 80–95 °C, with low relative humidity of the reactant gases. The electrochemical performance of the prepared MEAs was tested in a H2/Air 25 cm^2 single cell in terms of polarization curves and accelerated stress test(AST).

Dimethyl ether as circular hydrogen carrier:Catalytic aspects of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation steps

The intermittent nature of renewable resources requires for most applications the development of efficient and cost-effective technologies for steady supply of electrical energy.The storage of energy in the form of hydrogen chemically bound within organic molecules(rather than physically as compressed gas or cooled liquid)represents an alternative approach that is attracting great research interest.Compared to other liquid organic hydrogen carriers(LOHCs),dimethyl ether(DME)appears to have the largest potential impact on society,especially if inserted in technological chains of CO_(2) sequestration and utilization,so to determine an effective mitigation of environmental issues,without any net effect on the carbon footprint.Specifically,the steps of H2 storage and H2 release can take place in two coupled chemical processes,constituted by the exothermic synthesis of DME via CO_(2) hydrogenation and the endothermic steam reforming of DME,respectively.Herein,the latest advances in the development of heterogeneous bifunctional and hybrid catalysts for the direct hydrogenation of CO_(2) to DME are thoroughly reviewed,with special emphasis on thermodynamics,catalyst design and process feasibility.Despite many aspects behind the mechanism of DME synthesis from H2-CO_(2) streams are still to be uncovered,the recent progress in the research on H2 release by DME steam reforming is increasing the interest for effectively closing this binary H2 loop,in view of future green deals and sustainable research developments.

Comparative Study on Composite Electrodes for Medium Temperature PEFCs

1 Results The phenomena that affect the membranes could be found in the electrodes when they operate at medium temperature,due to the utilisation of Nafion as an ionomer in the catalytic layer.An approach to improve the mechanical properties of the ionomer in the catalytic layer was used: different inorganic compounds (zeolite,titania and zirconia),having different chemical-physical properties,were selected as inorganic fillers due to their water retention capacity and to act as mechanical reinforce by ...

Development of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for High Temperature PEFCs

1 Introduction During the last decades the research has been devoted to the development of non-perfluorinated polymers[1,2], as an alternative to commercial perfluorosulphonic membranes. There are several non-perfluorinated materials suitable for these systems that should have as a fundamental requirement a good thermal stability of the original polymer. The studied polymers consist of polyaromatic or polyetherocyclic repeat units like polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Many papers have been published about t...