Two Days National Workshop on FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY At NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CALICUT

Two Days National Workshop on FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY At NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CALICUT

INTRODUCTION

Today, the energy demands of our transport systems, industry and housing are met mainly by burning non-renewable finite resources of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. While it is unsustainable to continue in this way, it also leads to the release of greenhouse gas in the form of CO – one of the main contributors to global warming 2 and reason for drastic climate change. Consequently, governments and industry share a common need for alternative 'low carbon' approaches to meet our future energy demands focusing on energy efficiency and energy scarcity. For our transport systems, one of the solutions considered is the fuel cell technology. In terms of energy efficiency and environmental performance, fuel cells represent the most promising alternative to Internal Combustion engines delivering the power for
greener future. Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy of the fuel into usable electricity and heat without combustion with the only by-product being pure water. As an energy source, fuel cells produce almost none of the sulphur and nitrogen compounds currently released by conventional power generating systems. This technical workshop is being organized as a post conference event in continuation to the “National Conference on Recent Trends in Alternate Energy” organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering, scheduled during June 9-10, 2011 at National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala. (www.rtae.nitc.ac.in)

CONTENTS

* Fundamentals of fuel cell technology
* Key materials and components in fuel cell
* Fuel cell system integration and simulation
* Fuel cell applications and new concepts
* Hydrogen generation, storage and supply

FUEL CELL SYSTEM @ NIT CALICUT

Nexa -Training System
The Mechanical Engineering Department of NIT Calicut have recently acquired a ® Fuel Cell Nexa training system suitable for advanced instruction in the field of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. This is a fully integrated system that produces ® unregulated DC power from a supply of hydrogen and air. It contains a BALLARD fuel cell stack, as well as all the ancillary equipments necessary for fuel cell operation that include hydrogen delivery, oxidant air supply and cooling air supply. Onboard sensors monitor system performance and the control board and microprocessor fully automate the operation. The Nexa module is extremely quiet and produces zero harmful emissions, permitting indoor operations. The existing ® Nexa training system consists of:

* Metal hydride hydrogen storage module
* Powerful 1.2 kW PEM fuel cell – battery hybrid system
* Energy management module with control panel, DC/DC converter, load regulator and inverter
* PC in rack with monitor and keyboard on a swivel arm
* Measuring technology for electric system balancing and determining system efficiency ®
* Lab view based software for data recording
* Modular design with plug-in modules in movable rack

The Nexa training system teaches industrial application knowledge and enables the user to independent ly operate and parameterize the system. Many laboratory demonstrations can be carried out in this system which includes the following:

* Current, voltage and power characteristic curves of Fuel Cell stack
* System efficiency and efficiencies of individual components
* Optimization of the power consumption of the fuel system
* Examination of various AC consumers
* Dependence of output on temperature and air supply
* Hydrogen/current characteristic curve
* Influence of battery capacity and type
* Fuel consumption and load profile of the system

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

NIT Calicut has thirteen departments and six centers. It offers ten undergraduate, twenty five postgraduate programmes apart from Ph. D. The institute has good infrastructure in computing, information technology, laboratories and central library including digital library. All departments have separate computing facility in addition to the central facility.

ELIGIBILITY

This is an interdisciplinary programme. Teachers with specialization in any
engineering stream having interest in Fuel Cells are eligible to apply. The candidates with specialization in Mechanical / Electrical / Chemical Engineering shall be given preference Research Scholars and PG Students can also apply.

IMPORTANT DATES

Last date for receipt of duly filled application : 15-04-2011
Intimation of Selection : 15-05-2011

REGISTRATION FEE

Academicians from Institutes Rs. 1500/-
Research Scholars/ Students – Rs. 500/-
Industry personnel – Rs. 3000/-

A demand draft drawn in favor of “The Director – NITC”, payable at SBI, NITC Branch Chathamangalam, Code No. 2207 has to be sent along with the registration form.

HOW TO APPLY?

Application in the attached format along with the demand draft towards registration fee should reach the Coordinator on or before 15- 04-2011. The registration form can also be downloaded from the Institute website (www.nitc.ac.in).

SELECTION

Selection will be on first-come-first-served basis. Total number of participants for the workshop is limited to 30. Candidates selected will be intimated on 15- 05-2011 through e-mail. All further Communications also will be through e-mail only.

ACCOMMODATION

The participants can be provided accommodation within NITC campus on payment of additional charges subject to availability.

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Dr. A. Shaija / Dr. S. Jayaraj
Coordinators, National Workshop on Fuel Cell Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Calicut
NITC Campus P.O., Calicut, Kerala
Phone: 0495 2286427 (O) / 2286416 (O)
E-mail: shaija@nitc.ac.in; sjayaraj@nitc.ac.in
website: http://www.nitc.ac.in/Fuel_cell/brochure.pdf

Download full seminar papers At
http://www.enjineer.com/forum