Transcript Educational Module Proposal Template

A Study of Energy, Fuel Cells and Energy
Efficiency
RET Corps Member:
Dalia Zygas
Yvette M. Burnett, Lynne
El-Amin Waheed, Sueha Kayyal, Waclaw Kondratko,
& Billie J. Miller
IIT Research Mentor: Dr. Donald J. Chmielewski
Workshop Attendee Group Members:
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No.
EEC-0502174. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science
Foundation.
Overview of Module
• Topics Covered:
– Balancing Equations
– Calculating Bond Energy
– Enthalpy ΔH
– Efficiency
• Student Involvement:
– 14 – Middle and High School Students
– 100% Participation
Pretest/Posttest
Results
100
90
80
70
60
Pretest
Posttest
Percentage Gain
50
40
30
20
10
0
Qts. Qts. Qts. Qts. Qts. Qts. Qts.
1
2
3
4
8
10
11
Design Activity
• Brief Description: To use a car which
is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell
and measure its efficiency in a
manner similar to the Hero’s engine
lab
–Defining Need: Measuring
efficiency of environmentally friendly
engine (fuel-cell)
–Background research: - - -
Design Research
ENERGY AND FUEL CELLS
• Energy has been declared as the number one problem that
humanity must face during next 50 years. Hydrogen and
fuel cells have been getting a lot of attention because they
directly and efficiently convert chemical energy to
electrical energy. Fuel cells based on hydrogen are
environmentally friendly since water is the only byproduct.
Fuel cells based on hydrogen as a fuel do not produce
greenhouse gases such as CO2 and providing an
environmentally benign power. If hydrogen should be used
in future, the important issue is its inexpensive production
and storage.
Design Research
Mean Global Energy Consumption, 1998
5
4.52
4
2.7
3
2.96
TW
2
1.21
0.828
1
0.286
0
Oil
Gas
Total: 12.8 TW
Coal
Hydro
0.286
Renew
Biomass
Nuclear
U.S.: 3.3 TW (99 Quads)
Today: Production Cost of Electricity
(in the U.S. in 2002)
25-50 ¢
25
20
15
1-4 ¢
2.3-5.0 ¢ 6-8 ¢
5-7 ¢
6-7 ¢
Cost
10
5
0
Coal
Gas
Oil
Wind
Nuclear
Solar
DESIGN RESEARCH
POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY
Hydroelectric
 Geothermal
 Ocean/Tides
 Wind
 Biomass
 Solar
Design Research:
Why Hydrogen ?
• 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O
-242 kJ mol-1
– Oxidation does not produce greenhouse
gases
– Use in fuel cells is highly efficient
– The gasoline internal combustion engine
could be replaced by hydrogen fuel cells in
cars
• Can store excess energy produced by other
means
• Unlimited supply, in principle, from renewable
energy sources
• Key component of the post-petroleum world
WHY HYDROGEN
AND FUEL CELLS
• Fuel cells directly and
efficiently convert chemical
energy to electrical energy.
• Fuel cells offering significant
environmental benefits and
high electrical efficiency.
• With their promise of
environmentally benign
power, fuel cells are widely
promoted as the electricity
generators of the future.
PROBLEMS WITH
HYDROGEN
NaAlH4 X-ray view
NaAlD4 neutron view
Expensive-more energy is used
to generate hydrogen than is
released when it is consumed
Storage: 4.4 MJ/L (680 atm) 
9.72 MJ/L
Fuel cells: $3,000/kW  $35/kW
(gasoline engine)
Energy density (H2(l), 8.4 MJ/L)
 Energy density (gasoline, 31.6
MJ/L)
Research is needed on
hydrogen uptake and release in
complex hydrides
Professor Michael Trenary, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, ppp 7/6/2006. Source: BES Hydrogen Workshop Report
Priority Research Areas in Hydrogen
Storage
Novel and Nanoscale Materials
NaAlH4 X-ray view
Li, Nature 1999
NaAlD4 neutron view
X ray cross section
H
D
C O
Al
Si
Fe
Neutron cross section
Neutron imaging of
hydrogen
Complex metal hydrides can be
recharged on board the vehicles
Cup-stacked
carbon nNanofiber
Nanoporous inorganicorganic compounds
Theory and Modeling
To Understand Mechanisms, Predict Property
Trends, Guide Discovery of New Materials
H Adsorption in
nanotube array
Chemical hydrides will need
off-board regeneration
Professor Michael Trenary, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, ppp 7/6/2006. Source: BES Hydrogen Workshop Report
Energy Density of Fuels
Ideal Solid State Storage
Material for Hydrogen
Volumetric Energy Density (MJ / L)
30
Gasoline High gravimetric and
volumetric density(10wt%)
Fast kinetics
Favorable
thermodynamics
Reversible and recyclable
Material integrity
Minimal lattice expansion
Absence of embrittlement
Safe
Cost effective
20
Liquid H2
Compressed
gas H2
Proposed DOE goal
10
Chemical
hydrides
0
0
10
Complex
hydrides
20
30
40
Gravimetric Energy Density (MJ/kg)
Design Research: Conclusion
• Cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells can greatly
reduce our dependence on oil, if the hydrogen is
generated renewably.
• Basic research is needed to achieve a hydrogen
economy.
• Energy R&D is poised for rapid growth in the coming
years.
• Solving the worlds energy needs in a sustainable way
is one of the greatest challenges of this century
• Scientists/Engineers will be the heroes of this struggle
Design Activity
• Design Criteria:
– The ability to measure H2
– Energy Efficiency
– Reduce CO2 emissions
• Test & Redesign: Modifications to:
– Track – Barriers, Surface and Location, Placement of
Clips, Increased Mass,
– Inquiry, trial and error
• Materials Modifications: Need for a different car
• Results:
Inquiry
• Inquiry One:
– Brief Description: Students were supplied with efficiency and work
formulas, conversion factors, constants, tables, supplies/materials, lab
procedure and examples on how to compute data
– Lessons Learned
• Process of collecting data and calculating efficiency and work formulas
• Joules, Work, Efficiency, Mass, etc.
• Inquiry Two:
– Brief Description: Using various chemical symbols and manipulative
drawings to develop skills needed to balance combustion reactions.
• Students were given problem
• Instructors coached – guided each group as they developed skills need to
find the solution
– Lessons Learned:
• Students learned the basic rules of balancing equations
• Based on test data, 30% of students gained knowledge need to balance
combustion equations
Ethics
• Brief Description: Original module would help
students redesign and item within their
community to make it more environmentally
efficient, cost effective, able to use renewable
resources and reduce CO2 emission.
• Lessons Learned: Based on informal
observations - students learned
– H2 powered vehicle is not cost effective
– Public demand should pressure engineers to design a
more efficient and cost effective H2 powered vehicle
Modifications
•
Elementary (K-3) – Babies Driving Cars
– How things work
– What makes things go – hydrogen, diesel, and octane
– Designing cars of the future
•
Late Elementary (4-5) - Di-atomic molecules
–
–
–
–
•
Use Bingo to introduce atomic symbols
Use everyday items to describe physical characteristics some of di-atomic molecules
Use construction paper and coffee stirs to build molecular models
Fuel car activity used to demonstrate use of gas to power a car
Middle (5-8) – Will The Force Be With You
– Designing a method to measure the force between different magnets
– Examining Various Magnets
– Ethics of having magnetic devices
•
High School (9-12) – Food Power
– Use fuel cell car to introduce concept of efficiency
– Balance photosynthesis and cellular respiration equations
– Use meal planner to examine efficiency of meal choices (including obesity, sluggishness,
serum glucose level, etc.)
– Create and support fast-food options for: athletes, infants, expecting mother, construction
worker, senior citizen