Fuel cells are widely regarded as the future of the power and transportation industries. Intensive research in this area now requires new methods of fuel cell operation modeling and cell design. Typical mathematical models are based on the physical process description of fuel cells and require a detailed knowledge of the microscopic properties that govern both chemical and electrochemical reactions. Advanced Methods of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Modeling proposes the alternative methodology of generalized artificial neural networks (ANN) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) modeling. Advanced Methods of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Modeling provides a comprehensive description of modern fuel cell theory and a guide to the mathematical modeling of SOFCs, with particular emphasis on the use of ANNs. Up to now, most of the equations involved in SOFC models have required the addition of numerous factors that are difficult to determine. The artificial neural network (ANN) can be applied to simulate an object’s behavior without an algorithmic solution, merely by utilizing available experimental data. The ANN methodology discussed in Advanced Methods of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Modeling can be used by both researchers and professionals to optimize SOFC design. Readers will have access to detailed material on universal fuel cell modeling and design process optimization, and will also be able to discover comprehensive information on fuel cells and artificial intelligence theory.

Fuel Cell Modeling and Simulation: From Micro-Scale to Macro-Scale provides a comprehensive guide to the numerical model and simulation of fuel cell systems and related devices, with easy-to-follow instructions to help optimize analysis, design and control. With a focus on commercialized PEM and solid-oxide fuel cells, the book provides decision-making tools for each stage of the modeling process, including required accuracy and available computational capacity. Readers are guided through the process of developing bespoke fuel cell models for their specific needs. This book provides a step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of fuel cell modeling that is ideal for students, researchers and industry engineers working with fuel cell systems, but it will also be a great repository of knowledge for those involved with electric vehicles, batteries and computational fluid dynamics. Offers step-by-step guidance on the simulation of PEMFC and SOFC Provides an appendix of source codes for modeling, simulation and optimization algorithms Addresses the fundamental thermodynamics and reaction kinetics of fuel cells, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and fuel cell power plant chapters

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising electrochemical power generation devices that can convert chemical energy of a fuel into electricity in an efficient, environmental-friendly, and quiet manner. Due to their high operating temperature, SOFCs feature fuel flexibility as internal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels and ammonia thermal cracking can be realized in SOFC anode. This book presents an overview of the SOFC technology with a focus on the recent developments in new technologies and new ideas for addressing the key issues of SOFC development. This book first introduces the fundamental principles of SOFCs and compares SOFC technology with conventional heat engines as well as low temperature fuel cells. Then the latest developments in SOFC R&D are reviewed and future directions are discussed. Key issues related to SOFC performance improvement, long-term stability, mathematical modelling, as well as system integration/control are addressed, including material development, infiltration technique for nano-structured electrode fabrication, focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) technique for microstructure reconstruction, the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) simulation at pore scale, multi-scale modelling, SOFC integration with buildings and other cycles for stationary applications.

In engineering design and development, reliable and accurate computational methods are requested to replace or complement expensive and time consuming experimental trial and error work. Tremendous advancements have been achieved during recent years due to improved numerical solutions of non-linear partial differential equations and computer developments to achieve efficient and rapid calculations. Nevertheless, to further progress in computational methods will require developments in theoretical and predictive procedures – both basic and innovative – and in applied research. Accurate experimental investigations are needed to validate the numerical calculations. This book contains the edited versions of the papers presented at the Tenth International Conference on Advanced Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements in Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer held in Maribor, Slovenia in July 2008. The objective of this conference series is to provide a forum for presentation and discussion of advanced topics, new approaches and application of advanced computational methods and experimental measurements to heat and mass transfer problems. The contributed papers are grouped in the following appropriate sections to provide better access for readers: Natural and forced convection; Heat exchangers; Advances in computational methods; Heat recovery; Heat transfer; Modelling and experiments.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary research and emerging measurement technologies associated with gas transport in solid oxide fuel cells. Within these pages, an introduction to the concept of gas diffusion in solid oxide fuel cells is presented. This book also discusses the history and underlying fundamental mechanisms of gas diffusion in solid oxide fuel cells, general theoretical mathematical models for gas diffusion, and traditional and advanced techniques for gas diffusivity measurement.