Missouri S&T Hydrogen Fuel Cell EcoCAR

Track III: Energy InfrastructureIncludes audio file (19 min.)Today, the automotive industry is at a crossroads during the worst economic downturn in 75 years. Particularly frustrating is that this crisis struck just at a time when these companies were successfully restructuring themselves and creating a new generation of cleaner, more efficient vehicles. This progress, and the very viability of the U.S.-based auto industry, is threatened. In response to that threat, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), as well as by Natural Resources Canada and other industry leaders, established a new collegiate advanced vehicle technology competition (AVTC), the “EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge.” EcoCAR challenges engineering students from universities across North America to re-engineer a light-duty vehicle, minimizing energy consumption, emissions, and greenhouse gases while maintaining the vehicle's utility, safety, and performance. The Missouri S&T was selected in May 2008 as one of only 17 in North America. And in November 2008 Missouri S&T was selected as the only team in U.S.A. to receive hydrogen fuel cells, the cutting-edge powertrain technology for the EcoCAR Challenge. The new Missouri S&T hydrogen testbed used by the EcoCAR project includes the EcoCAR Garage, Hydrogen Fueling Station and the Renewable Energy Transit Depot. The station uses an on-site steam methane reformer and electrolyzer, steel and carbon composite storage tanks, a 350 bar hydrogen dispenser, and a stationary Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. These new facilities collectively have been named the E3 Commons in response to Chancellor Carney “E3=C” challenge, i.e. Energy, Environment and Education equals Civilization

Closure of Earthern Manure Structures (Including Basins, Holding Ponds and Lagoons)

This paper is a summary of what is known scientifically about the closure of earthen manure structures without artificial liners, including lagoons, storage basins, and runoff holding ponds, and what needs to be examined further to increase our understanding of the dynamics of closing them in an environmentally safe manner. This information should be useful as a guide for state regulatory agencies considering rules for closure and for academicians and consultants who work with livestock production facilities

Study of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Combined Heat, Hydrogen and Power System: End-Use Application

To address the problem of fossil fuel usage and high greenhouse gas emissions at the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus, using of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources can lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas, produced by anaerobic digestion of wastewater, organic waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste, and animal by-products is a potential source of renewable energy. In this work, we have discussed the design of CHHP system for the campus using local resources. An energy flow and resource availability study is performed to identify the type and source of feedstock required to continuously run the fuel cell system at peak capacity. Following the resource assessment study, the team selects FuelCell Energy DFC1500™ unit as a molten carbonate fuel cell. The CHHP system provides electricity to power the university campus, thermal energy for heating the anaerobic digester, and hydrogen for transportation, back-up power and other needs. In conclusion, the CHHP system will be able to reduce fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions at the university campus

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Combined Heat, Hydrogen and Power System: Feedstock Analysis

AbstractBiogas is an untapped potential in regards to an alternative energy source. This immediately available resource will allow countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and reliance on fossil fuels. This energy source is created by anaerobic digestion of feedstock. Sources for feedstock include organic and inorganic waste, agricultural waste, animal by-products, and industrial waste. All of these sources of biogas are a renewable energy source. Specifically a fuel cell can utilize the methane present in biogas using integrated heat, power, and hydrogen systems. A study was performed concerning energy flow and resource availability to ascertain the type and source of feedstock to run a fuel cell system unceasingly while maintaining maximum capacity. After completion of this study and an estimation of locally available fuel, the FuelCell Energy 1500 unit (a molten carbonate fuel cell) was chosen to be used on campus. This particular fuel cell will provide electric power, thermal energy to heat the anaerobic digester, hydrogen for transportation, auxiliary power to the campus, and myriad possibilities for more applications. In conclusion, from the resource assessment study, a FuelCell Energy DFC1500TM unit was selected for which the local resources can provide 91% of the fuel requirements

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Analysis: Lessons Learned from Stationary Power Generation Final Report

This study considered opportunities for hydrogen in stationary applications in order to make recommendations related to RD&D strategies that incorporate lessons learned and best practices from relevant national and international stationary power efforts, as well as cost and environmental modeling of pathways. The study analyzed the different strategies utilized in power generation systems and identified the different challenges and opportunities for producing and using hydrogen as an energy carrier. Specific objectives included both a synopsis/critical analysis of lessons learned from previous stationary power programs and recommendations for a strategy for hydrogen infrastructure deployment. This strategy incorporates all hydrogen pathways and a combination of distributed power generating stations, and provides an overview of stationary power markets, benefits of hydrogen-based stationary power systems, and competitive and technological challenges. The motivation for this project was to identify the lessons learned from prior stationary power programs, including the most significant obstacles, how these obstacles have been approached, outcomes of the programs, and how this information can be used by the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program to meet program objectives primarily related to hydrogen pathway technologies (production, storage, and delivery) and implementation of fuel cell technologies for distributed stationary power. In addition, the lessons learned address environmental and safety concerns, including codes and standards, and education of key stakeholders

The British Army, information management and the First World War revolution in military affairs

Information Management (IM) – the systematic ordering, processing and channelling of information within organisations – forms a critical component of modern military command and control systems. As a subject of scholarly enquiry, however, the history of military IM has been relatively poorly served. Employing new and under-utilised archival sources, this article takes the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of the First World War as its case study and assesses the extent to which its IM system contributed to the emergence of the modern battlefield in 1918. It argues that the demands of fighting a modern war resulted in a general, but not universal, improvement in the BEF’s IM techniques, which in turn laid the groundwork, albeit in embryonic form, for the IM systems of modern armies. KEY WORDS: British Army, Information Management, First World War, Revolution in Military Affairs, Adaptatio

Characterization of the proton beam at the output of the 6.7MeV LEDA RFQ.

The present configuration of the Low-Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA) consists of a 75-keV proton injector, a 6.7-MeV 350-MHz cw radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) with associated high-power and lowlevel rf systems, a 52-magnet periodic lattice followed by a short high-energy beam transport (HEBT) and highpower (670-kW cw) beam stop. The rms beam emittance was measured prior to the installation of the 52-magnet lattice, based on wire-scanner measurements of the beam profile at a single location in the HEBT. New measurements with additional diagnostic hardware have been performed to determine the rms transverse beam properties of the beam at the output of the 6.7-MeV LEDA RFQ. The 52-magnet periodic lattice also includes ten beam position monitors (BPMs) evenly spaced in pairs of two. The BPMs provide a measure of the bunched beam current that exhibits nulls at different locations in the lattice. Model predictions of the locations of the nulls and the strength of the bunched beam current are made to determine what information this data can provide regarding the longitudinal beam emittance

Influenza-Like Illness in Hospitalized Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the 2009–2010 H1N1 Pandemic

To estimate characteristics and outcomes of pregnant and immediately postpartum women hospitalized with influenza-like illness during the 2009–2010 influenza pandemic, and the factors associated with more severe illness

Consensus Recommendation for Mouse Models of Ocular Hypertension to Study Aqueous Humor Outflow and Its Mechanisms.

Due to their similarities in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to humans, mice are a valuable model system to study the generation and mechanisms modulating conventional outflow resistance and thus intraocular pressure. In addition, mouse models are critical for understanding the complex nature of conventional outflow homeostasis and dysfunction that results in ocular hypertension. In this review, we describe a set of minimum acceptable standards for developing, characterizing, and utilizing mouse models of open-angle ocular hypertension. We expect that this set of standard practices will increase scientific rigor when using mouse models and will better enable researchers to replicate and build upon previous findings