Transcript Final Year Project

Final Year Project
Initial Project
Presentation
Title: Energy Conversion
for low voltage values.
Supervisor: Dr.Maeve Duffy
Background
The aim of this project is to develop circuits to
demonstrate the performance of bio fuel cells
which are being developed by the Energy
research centre in NUI Galway.
Overview
In times where global warming is becoming an
increasing concern new “greener” energy
sources are being investigated. This project in
collaboration with the Energy Research Centre
at NUIG aims at modelling circuits which can
convert energy output from Bio Fuel Cells to a
useable form so that the potential of these
cells as an Energy source can be
demonstrated.
What is a Fuel Cell?
• “A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device. It produces electricity
from fuel and an oxidant, which react in the presence of an electrolyte.
NUI Galway.” – Wikipedia
• “An electrochemical cell in which the energy of a reaction between a fuel,
such as liquid hydrogen, and an oxidant, such as liquid oxygen, is
converted directly and continuously into electrical energy.” www.thefreedictionary.com
• “A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that derives its energy from
combustible substances such as hydrogen, methane, propane, methanol,
diesel fuel or even gasoline.” – www.techtarget.com
Bio Fuel Cell
Anode Reaction: CH3COOH -> CO2 + 4H+ -bacteria acts as catalyst.
Cathode Reaction: H + H -> H2
Milestones
• Pass:
- Review of fuel cells and bio fuels.
- Characterise the electrical performance of the
demonstrator of bio fuels cells.
- Demonstrate the application of the cells in powering a
small digital device.
• Average:
– Investigate the application of bio fuel cells in
battery charging.
Milestones
• Good:
– Build and test a DC/DC solution for connecting
between the fuel cells and the battery charger
circuit.
• Very Good:
– Redesign the battery charging circuitry to allow for
the reduced current levels provided by one fuel cell.
• Excellent:
– Demonstration of battery charging for a mobile
phone with bio fuel cell sources.
Completion Times
• Web Page to be completed by the 26th of
October.
• Pass Milestones should be completed by no
later than the 31st of October.
• Average Milestones should be completed no
later than the 31st of November.
• Good Milestones should be completed no
later than the 31st of December.
Completion Times
• Progress Report to be completed by the 11th
of January.
• Very Good Milestones should be completed
no later than the 15 of January.
• Excellent Milestones should be completed by
the 15 of February.
• Draft Report to be completed by the 16th of
March.
• Final Report to be completed by the 24th of
March.
Work Done So Far
• Research of Fuel cell operation and
applications.
• Research of LED specifications
• Research of Boost Converters needed to Boost
the voltage output from the Fuel Cell
Work Done So Far
Using a case study obtained from the internet I
was able to find that they used an Anode
chamber with a surface area of 0.025m2.
Assuming the ERC use a similar Area I was able
to work out given the current density and the
power density from the ERC the current and
power output from the Anode.
Power ~ 4.125 milli-Watts
Current ~ 7.75 milli-Amps
Work Done So Far
Lighting an LED:
From using the voltage supply’s in lab and
researching information on the internet I
found that LED’s can operate from as little as 2
milli-Amps up to 30 milli-Amps.
Work Done So Far
Generic Circuit for boosting current output from fuel cell:
What to do next?
• Visit the Energy Research Centre.
» Measure output voltage and load characteristic
• Develop equivalent model of Fuel Cell circuit.
• Design Circuitry to enable the fuel to power
other low power devices.
Questions!!