103 research outputs found
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Microengineered cathode interface studies
The overpotential at the cathode/electrolyte interface has been recognized as an important limitation on the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This project is an effort to gain a scientific understanding of which interface features and conditions contribute to cathode polarization in SOFCs. The paper discusses three possible rate-limiting factors in the cathode reaction. The paper studies the electronic conductivity in the electrolyte, the ionic conductivity in the cathode, cathode geometry near the interface, and cathode surface area
Organic matter in termite mounds of an Amazonian rain forest.
This study investigates how termites alter the organic matter in rain forests near Manaus, Brazil. Samples were collected from the outer and inner parts of typical termite nests of Nasutitermes, Termes, Embiratermes, Cornitermes, Anoplotermes, and Constrictotermes genera, as well as from the surrounding topsoil (0cm-10cm) and potential wooden food. The termite nests were signficant sinks for organic matter and its associated nutrients. The organic C contents ranged between 100g kg-1 and 500g kg-1 in the nests, compared to 17g kg-1 to 42g kg-1 in the surrounding topsoils. As lignin contents of the mounds were higher than in wood, lignin may be accumulated in preference to other organic compounds. This findings also sugests that the interior part of the nests is a region of higher organic matter turnover and lignin degradation
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Sealant materials for solid oxide fuel cells
The objective of this work is to complete the development of soft glass-ceramic sealants for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Among other requirements, the materials must soften at the operation temperature of the fuel cell (600--1,000 C) to relieve stresses between stack components, and their thermal expansions must be tailored to match those of the stack materials. Specific objectives included addressing the needs of industrial fuel cell developers, based on their evaluation of samples the authors supply, as well as working with commercial glass producers to achieve scaled-up production of the materials without changing their properties. Results from long-term stability testing, stability in voltage gradients, thermal expansion and softening, and scaled-up production methods are presented
Influence of hydraulic property correlation on predicted dense nonaqueous phase liquid source zone architecture, mass recovery and contaminant flux
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94685/1/wrcr9972.pd
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Micro-engineered cathode interface studies
The aim of this work is to increase the performance of the cathode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at 1,000 C by decreasing the polarization resistance from 0.2 {Omega}-cm{sup 2} at 300 mA/cm{sup 2}. Decreased polarization resistance will allow operation at higher current densities. This work is in support of the Westinghouse tubular SOFC technology using YSZ electrolyte and strontium doped lanthanum manganite (LSM) cathode. As a result of work performed last year at Argonne National Laboratory and information derived from the literature, the limitations at the cathode/electrolyte interface can be classified into two main areas. First, the ionic conductivity of the LSM cathode material is low which limits the reaction zone to an area very close to the interface, while the rest of the cathode thickness acts essentially as current collector with channels for gas access. Second, the electronic conductivity in YSZ is very low which limits the reaction zone to areas that are the boundaries between LSM and YSZ rather than the YSZ surface away from LSM at the interface. Possible solutions to this problem being pursued are: (1) introducing an ionic conducting YSZ phase in LSM to form a porous two-phase mixture of LSM and YSZ; (2) applying a thin interlayer between the electrolyte and the cathode where the interlayer has high ionic and electronic conductivity and high catalytic activity for reduction of O{sub 2}; (3) increasing the ionic conductivity in the LSM by suitable doping; and (4) increasing the electronic conductivity in the electrolyte by doping or by depositing an appropriate mixed conducting layer on the YSZ before applying the cathode
Comparison of two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional simulations of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs): Migration and entrapment in a nonuniform permeability field
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95015/1/wrcr10030.pd
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Advances in research for solid oxide fuel cells
Solid oxide fuel cells are attracting considerable interest among industrial organizations wanting to position themselves in a potentially important technology of the future. More than a dozen new organizations worldwide have begun SOFC development in the last few years. Most of this R and D activity is in the planar technology, because it represents a good compromise between the proven but IR-limited tubular configuration and the high-performance but difficult-to-fabricate monolithic structure. The challenges of developing the planar cell configurations are finding high-temperature edge and manifold seal materials that will make very flat ceramic trilayers of sufficiently large area, and minimize contact resistances in stacks of cells. Also, decreasing the operating temperature requires development of reliable thin-film fabrication methods for the electrolyte, and finding a metal with good oxidation resistance and a thermal expansion coefficient well matched with the different cell components. Finally, toughness and a thermal stress tolerance of stacks need to be improved
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