Week
1
Devised
merits, drawbacks and approach to fuel cell area.
General reading and research of fuel cells and their applications.
Organised a schedule of weekly reviews for supervisors and ourselves.
Week
2
General
discussion of findings included main areas and developing technologies that have
been involved with fuel cell of late. Prepare
for the first Crit on the Friday. Crit went reasonably well; seem to be going in the right
direction. Split the main areas
into four main sections omitting transport applications at this point.
Content
of Crit 1:
Background of fuel cells
Features of fuel cells
Description of main types
The interest in fuel cells
Project direction
Week
3
General
research in our relevant areas: Hydrogen for fuel cells, Combined heat and
Power, Applications for electrical devices, and Market trends and extend.
Week
4
Continuation
of research into relevant areas highlighted as well as preparing for the second
Crit on the Friday. Crit didn’t
go too well, not being clear on what it was we hoped to deliver from fuel cells.
Revision of project direction assessed.
Content
of Crit 2:
Hydrogen as a fuel
Hydrogen storage and production
Solar electrolysis
Fuel cell applications in buildings and
electrical devices
Fuel cell extent and market trends
Week
5
Planned
testing of available fuel cell to gain additional knowledge and understanding of
parameters effects on the cell performance.
Before testing COSH assessments where required for both electrolyte and
fuel (methanol/ethanol). However,
was time consuming and put us behind by a week due to equipment and assessments.
Week
6
Fuel
cell testing of fuel cell, “Unilab mini fuel cell” .
Alkaline
fuel cell testing achieved
·
Aluminium
cell arrangement
·
Concentration
of electrolyte
·
Methanol/Ethanol
fuel
Content
of Crit 3:
Progress of project
Presentation of fuel cell experiments
completed
Further areas to investigate
Conclusions so far
Project deliverables
Week
7
Continuation
of fuel cell testing.
Alkaline
cell testing achieved
·
Pressure
·
Temperature
Investigation
of possible web page layouts.
Week
8
Planned
Hydrogen fuel cell testing planed. However,
risk assessment for the use of hydrogen is required and needs to be approved
before use due to its nature. Testing
of hydrogen fuel cell was undertaken within controlled circumstances and
supervision due to nature. Attended
presentation of fuel cells by the ImechE at Caledonian University, which gave us
some insight to possibly questioned asked.
Crit received reasonably well, although felt testing had slowed down the
progress of the project. Writing up
of some parts for inclusion into the web page.
Content
of Crit 4:
Recent progress
Presentation of other fuel cell experiments
Review of fuel cells in transportation and
transport
Conclusions so far
Fuel choices – Methanol and hydrogen
Clarifying of project deliverables
Week
9
Preparation
for review of main presentation content for the Friday. Decided on what main areas to present.
Presentation
Content
Brief introduction of group members
Overview of fuel cells and applications
Extend
of fuel cells
Transport as a side issue
CHP – cells involved
Comparison of two main cells
Costs, emissions and benefits
Description of handouts
Content
of presentation received well but transport has been emitted due to time
available to present. However, a
handout on transport will be giving to initiate any queries on this area of fuel
cells at the end of the presentation.
Week
10
Collaboration
between the group looking at the CHP issues involved with fuel cells.
Looking at the direct comparisons of Phosphoric acid fuel cells, PAFC,
and Solid Oxide fuel cells, SOFC. These
are the more predominant cells in this area.
No more crits scheduled.
Week
11
Concluded
the comparison of PAFC and SOFC including costs associated and emissions saved.
Started looking at possible comparisons with some traditional CHP systems
and the performance data of these systems to allow the comparisons.
Week
12
Collaboration
of the web page design. In
addition, the comparisons of traditional CHP systems and PAFC. Following the results from the comparison of the two fuel
cell types the PAFC will give the comparison to traditional systems.
Work staring on the presentation, including the writing and the support
materials required.