Proposal and fundamental analysis of thermally regenerative fuel cell utilizing solar heat
- Electrotechnical Lab., Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan)
In Japan, it is difficult to get high-temperature heat continuously from the sun. However, it is easy to get low-temperature solar thermal energy. In order to use low-temperature solar energy, the authors propose use of a thermally regenerative fuel cell operated by solar energy. It is a direct energy conversion. It consists of 2-propanol dehydrogenation at negative electrode, acetone hydrogenation at positive electrode and electrolyte sandwiched by both electrodes. By means of combination with chemical reaction and fuel cell, it can convert low temperature thermal energy like solar thermal energy into electrical energy directly. In order to make clear characteristics of the proposed cell, the authors use molecular hydrogen as proton source instead of 2-propanol. The activity of ruthenium and platinum composite catalyst supported carbon plate for acetone hydrogenation at 363 K is higher than that of ruthenium or platinum mono-metallic catalyst supported carbon plate. The activity of ruthenium and platinum composite catalyst supported carbon felt or carbon cloth is much higher than carbon-plate-supported catalysts. The authors adopted a ruthenium and platinum composite catalyst supported carbon felt or cloth as electrodes of the cell and examined its characteristics.
- OSTI ID:
- 349039
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970701--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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