The fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics and electrochemistry applied to energy systems, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the technology of hydrogen and fuel cells, both at low temperature (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells or PEMFC) and high temperature (Solid Oxide Fuel Cells or SOFC).

Applications of fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics and electrochemistry to energy systems.
Understanding and design of energy systems based on electro-chemical processes and technologies.

Preliminary knowledge acquired in the courses of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, Chemical Plants, Material Science. Lectures given in English.

Fundamentals:
• Fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics
• Fundamentals of electro-chemical processes and devices
Hydrogen technologies
• Physical and chemical properties of H2.
• Properties of fuel for the various typologies of fuel cells
• Reforming of hydrocarbons
• Electrolysis of water: experimental tests on high pressure PEM electrolyzer at the IN.TE.S.E. laboratory at Polito
• Storage of hydrogen as liquid.
• Storage of hydrogen as metal hydride: experimental tests on metal hydride adsorption and desorption at the IN.TE.S.E. laboratory at Polito
Electro-chemical systems
• PEMFC: Description of the PEMFC and of its operation, Electrochemical model of the PEMFC (polarization curve), Useful expressions for design and operation of the PEMFC, Stack PEMFC: description and analysis of operation in cogenerative configuration, Experimental test on PEMFC single cells and stack at the HySyLab laboratory
• SOFC: Description of the SOFC and of its operation, Electrochemical model of the SOFC (polarization curve), Chemical model of the SOFC (internal reforming), Experimental test on SOFC single cells at the IN.TE.S.E. laboratory at Polito
• Electrolyzers: alkaline, acid, solid oxide. Modeling, analysis, tests

The complete model of design and operation of fuel cells (PEMFC and SOFC) will be developed during the calculation lectures.
In the labs, experimental tests will be developed on single cells and stack PEMFC (3 h) and on single cells and stack SOFC (3 h), on high pressure electrolysis and high temperature electrolysis (3 h)

Supplied by the teachers.
The course will make use of the Interactive Learning Material towards Environomical Pathway for Future Energy Services in a Global Perspective (SELECT CD) - Erasmus Mundus Curriculum Development
SUGGESTED BOOKS
Chemical Thermodynamics:
1. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics, Adrian Bejan, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 3 edizione (18 agosto 2006)
2. Thermodynamics: Foundations and Applications, Elias P. Gyftopoulos and Gian Paolo Beretta, Editore: Macmillan Publishing Company
Electrochemistry:
1. Electrochemical Engineering Principles, Geoffrey Prentice, Editore: Prentice-Hall International
Fuel Cells:
1. Fuel Cells Systems Explained, James Larminie and Andrew Dicks, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
2. High Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals, Desig and Applications, Subash Singhal and Kevin Kendall, Editore: Elsevier Ltd
3. Advanced Methods of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Modeling, Jaroslaw Milewski, Konrad Swirski, Massimo Santarelli, Pierluigi Leone, Editore: Springer

Oral exam with calculation and design of electro-chemical energy systems.