Integration of Micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in Power Generator Devices

• Autores: Dolors Pla Asesio
• Directores de la Tesis: Alberto Tarancón Rubio (dir. tes.), Joan Ramon Morante i Lleonart (dir. tes.), Marc Salleras Freixes (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat de Barcelona ( España ) en 2015
• Idioma: inglés
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Francisca Peiró Martínez (presid.), Teresa Andreu Arbella (secret.), Guilhem Dezanneau (voc.), Jordi Llorca Piqué (voc.), Luis Fonseca Chacharo (voc.)
• Materias:
  • Física
    • Química física
      • Teoría de las células de combustible
    • Física del estado sólido
  • Ciencias tecnológicas
    • Tecnología de materiales
      • Materiales cerámicos
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: Dipòsit Digital de la UB
• Resumen

  • In the last decades, energy requirements of portable devices are exponentially increasing while the capacity of the current battery technology is not progressing accordingly. This energy gap claims for the development of new technologies beyond Li-ion. Novel miniaturized devices able to efficiently operate on the low power regime (1 - 20 W) in continuous mode by using a fuel are receiving increased attention. Due to their long lifetime, high power density and integrability, probably the most promising alternative is the development of micro fuel cells. Amongst them, micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (microSOFCs) present the highest values of specific energy densities (by unit mass and volume), mainly due to their higher operating temperature and their capability of operating directly on hydrocarbon fuels. One of the most promising approaches for the microSOFCs is based on the monolithic integration of functional free-standing electrolyte membranes in silicon technology. This approach ensures high reproducibility and reliability, cheap mass production and easy integration to mainstream technology. This thesis encompasses the design, fabrication and test of the main components of a novel microSOFC power generator as a first step to develop a complete device in the near future. The adopted approach is based on the use of MEMS fabrication methods to miniaturize microSOFCs in silicon technology and high energy density hydrocarbons as fuels. The microSOFC power generator is designed to supply 1W of electrical energy in a small volume (10-20 cm3). The work developed is divided into six chapters. The first chapter introduces the basics and challenges of a microSOFC power generator. The second chapter focuses on the experimental procedures and characterization techniques used. In the third chapter, the thermal analysis of a new microSOFC power generator with finite-volume simulations is presented. The fourth chapter shows the fabrication and characterization of a fuel processing unit capable to produce hydrogen from ethanol steam reforming and methane dry reforming. The next chapter is related to a catalytic micro-machined combustor. Finally, chapter six presents the development of a full ceramic microSOFC.