The description, modelling, analysis of advanced energy systems based on the integration of power, thermo-chemical and electro-chemical processes for poly-generation purposes. Starting from the fundamentals of chemical thermodynamics and electrochemistry applied to energy systems, the course develops topics related to electrochemical systems (fuel cells, electrolyzers, flow batteries), thermo-chemical systems (gasification, production of biogas, chemical looping systems), concepts of chemical storage for the production of synthetic fuels (CO2 recovery, power-to-gas, power-to-liquid processes) and complete this with the analysis of some examples of complex poly-generation systems.
Some activities at the lab level (mainly on electrochemical and thermochemical systems applied to energy) will be developed along the course.

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

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

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
• SOFC: Description of the SOFC and of its operation, Electrochemical model of the SOFC (polarization curve), Chemical model of the SOFC (internal reforming)
• Electrolyzers: alkaline, acid, solid oxide.
• Flow batteries: vanadium-based, Li-air batteries, SOFC redox batteries

THERMO-CHEMICAL SYSTEMS
• Pyrolysis
• Gasification
• Supercritical water gasification
• Biogas
• Principles of chemical looping (example: fuel decarbonization)

HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES
• Physical and chemical properties of H2
• Reforming of hydrocarbons
• Production from renewables
• Storage of hydrogen (liquid, metal hydride)

CHEMICAL STORAGE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC FUELS
• RES-storage and synthetic fuels
• Processes for CO2 recovery
• CCS processes
• Principles of power-to-gas (P2G) processes
• Production of synthetic methane
• Principles of power-to-liquid (P2L) processes
• Production of synthetic Methanol, DME, diesel

EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX POLY-GENERATION SYSTEMS
• WWTU plant with MCFC CHP system and hydrogen recovery
• WWTU plant with SOFC system and CO2 recovery and carbon fixation in algae
• IGCC integrated with SOFC systems and CCS

A project (home assignment) will be developed during the LAIB lectures using the ASPEN+ tool.
The Topic varies every year (as an example: feasibility study of a biogas fed SOFC system)

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 (1.5 h), on Li-ion batteries (1.5 h), on thermo-chemical systems (3.0 h in SMAT).

Mostly supplied by the teachers.

CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS:
1. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics, Adrian Bejan, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 3 ed. (August 18, 2006)
2. Thermodynamics: Foundations and Applications, Elias P. Gyftopoulos and Gian Paolo Beretta, Editor: Macmillan Publishing Company

ELECTROCHEMISTRY:
1. Electrochemical Engineering Principles, Geoffrey Prentice, Editor: Prentice-Hall International

FUEL CELLS:
1. Fuel Cells Systems Explained, James Larminie and Andrew Dicks, Editor: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
2. High Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals, Desig and Applications, Subash Singhal and Kevin Kendall, Editor: Elsevier Ltd
3. Advanced Methods of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Modeling, Jaroslaw Milewski, Konrad Swirski, Massimo Santarelli, Pierluigi Leone, Editor: Springer

1) Mandatory part: written exam (on all the topics of the course)
• 2 open questions
• 2 calculation exercises
Total time: 2.0 hours, maximum grade: 30/30.
2) Oral exam:
a. Mandatory part: evaluation of the project (home assignment):
grades 0 ÷ +3 points, added to the grade of the written part. The final mark, equal to the sum of the grade of the written exam and that of the Mandatory part of the Oral exam, can be accepted by the student as such, or be followed by an Optional part.
b. Optional part: oral exam on all the topics of the course: the final mark will be modified according to the result of the Oral part: grades -3 ÷ +3 points, added to the final mark.