ME-551 Engines and fuel cells

Engines:

Objectives:

To know the main technological and methodological options in the design and use of internal combustion engine and after treatment systems, which are excellent examples to illustrate the coupling with tradeoffs between mechanical, thermal, economical and environmental constraints.

Content:

Operation principles, Mechanical (kinematics, dynamics) and thermodynamic principles (ideal cycles), Diesel and spark ignition engines (combustion process, load regulation, noise analysis and prevention, electronics regulation, supercharging), Characterization of combustion gases, pollutant formation, Means and methods of emissions reduction, Modeling (cycle modeling, time dependant combustion, sub-systems modeling), New concepts: hybrids systems, downsizing, direct injection, discussion.

Conversion in fuel cells:

Objectives:

Learn and understand the basic design and operating principles and constraints in direct conversion of chemical energy into electricity by fuel cells, characterized by high efficiency at small power size. Fuel cells are devices at the crossroads between the disciplines of mechanical, chemical, electrical and materials science engineering, and thus an excellent study case to illustrate the importance of interdisciplinary research and knowledge.

Content:

Construction and architecture of fuel cell families, for application at ambient and high temperature. Operating principles, thermodynamics and kinetics. Advantages and challenges, highlighting the efficiency (electrical, cogeneration, part-load). Fuel choice and fuel treatment (hydrogen, hydrocarbons). Aspects of modeling in fuel cells. Exercices with numerical exemples.