Transforming Energy Lecture Series Sponsored by the Univ. of Maryland Energy Research Center

Friday, March 16, 2012
3:00 p.m.
Rm. 1202, Glenn L. Martin Hall
Annette Mateus
301 405 4799
amateus@umd.edu

Subhash C. Singhal, Batelle Fellow Emeritus
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

"Status of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Research and Industry"

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology has been researched for clean and efficient power generation for over four decades. However, in spite of tremendous progress made in scientific understanding of their materials and electrochemical behavior, their commercial applications are still limited. The most important need to commercialize this technology is to significantly reduce the overall cost of SOFC-based power systems, while maintaining adequate performance and performance stability with time. Reduction of cell operation temperature has enabled use of low-cost metallic interconnects and a decrease in maintenance costs. However, at lower temperatures, greater ohmic loss due to reduced ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and reduced catalytic activity of the electrodes result in lower cell performance. To improve cell performance at lower temperatures, employing thin electrolyte and nanoscale materials in the electrodes has been considered. However, at lower temperatures, greater ohmic loss due to reduced ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and reduced catalytic activity of the electrodes result in lower cell performance. To improve cell performance at lower temperatures, employing thin electrolyte and nanoscale materials in the electrodes has been considered. However, a crucial question that remains to be answered is if the beneficial effect of employing nanoscale materials will persist even after long term cell operation at high temperatures, even though the initial performance may have indicated substantial enhancement. This presentation will focus on the materials, processing, and performance of solid oxide fuel cells, with relative advantages/disadvantages of tubular and planar geometries. Stacks and systems built with both tubular and planar geometries will be described and their operating experience discussed. Applications of such cells in stationary, mobile and military market sectors will be reviewed and challenges in reducing cell and system costs summarized.

Biography

Dr. Singhal is presently a Battelle Fellow Emeritus at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He obtained a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. From 1971 to 2000, he worked at Siemens Power Generation (formerly Westinghouse Electric Corporation), where he conducted and/or managed major research, development, and demonstration programs for various energy conversion systems including steam and gas turbines, coal gasification, and fuel cells. From 1984 to 2000, he was manager of Fuel Cell Technology there, responsible for the development of solid oxide fuel cells for stationary power generation. From 2000 to 2011, he was at PNNL as a Battelle Fellow and Director, Fuel Cells, and provided senior technical, managerial, and commercialization leadership to the Laboratory’s extensive fuel cell and clean energy programs. He has authored about 100 scientific publications, edited 17 books, received 13 patents, and given 310 plenary, keynote and other invited presentations worldwide. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Washington State Academy of Sciences.

Audience: Campus  Clark School  Graduate  Undergraduate  Alumni  Corporate 

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