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Fuel Cells: Current Technology Challenges and Future Research Needs is a one-of-a-kind, definitive reference source for technical students, researchers, government policymak… Read more
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Immediately download your ebook while waiting for your print delivery. No promo code needed.
Fuel Cells: Current Technology Challenges and Future Research Needs is a one-of-a-kind, definitive reference source for technical students, researchers, government policymakers, and business leaders. Here in a single volume is a thorough review of government, corporate, and research institutions’ policies and programs related to fuel cell development, and the effects of those programs on the success or failure of fuel cell initiatives. The book describes specific, internal corporate and academic R&D activities, levels of investment, strategies for technology acquisition, and reasons for success and failure.
This volume provides an overview of past and present initiatives to improve and commercialize fuel cell technologies, as well as context and analysis to help potential investors assess current fuel cell commercialization activities and future prospects. Crucially, it also gives top executive policymakers and company presidents detailed policy recommendations on what should be done to successfully commercialize fuel cell technologies.
Dedication
Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 William Grove Invents the Fuel Cell
1.2 Fuel Cells: Commercial Success Remains Elusive
1.3 The Unfulfilled Promise
References
Chapter 2. Fuel Cells and the Challenges Ahead
2.1 What Is A Fuel Cell?
2.2 Types Of Fuel Cells: Distinct Technologies
2.3 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
2.4 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
2.5 Alkaline Fuel Cells
2.6 Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells
2.7 Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
2.8 Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
References
Chapter 3. History of Alkaline Fuel Cells
3.1 Overview
3.2 Francis T. Bacon Builds The First Alkaline Fuel Cell
3.3 AFC Development in the United States
3.4 AFC Development in Europe: Decades of Work With No Significant Consequence….But Some Field Tests Continue
3.5 AFC Development in Russia: Sustained Effort, But With Little Commercial Success
3.6 AFC Development in Japan: Limited Activities of No Consequence….But A New Effort Emerges
References
Chapter 4. History of Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells
4.1 Overview
4.2 PAFC Development in the United States: 25 Years of Government Programs Fail to Produce a Cost-Competitive PAFC System
4.3 PAFC Development in Japan
4.4 PAFC Development in Other Countries: Primarily Test-Operating US and Japanese PAFC Power Plants
References
Chapter 5. History of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
5.1 MCFC Effort Starts in the Netherlands in the 1950S
5.2 MCFC Development in the United States
5.3 MCFC Development in Japan
5.4 MCFC Development in Europe
5.5 MCFC Development in South Korea
References
Chapter 6. History of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
6.1 Introduction
6.2 US Department of Energy Initiates SOFC R&D Program in 1977
6.3 Japan Launches SOFC Research in Wake of Oil Crisis
6.4 Europe Restarts SOFC Development in 1986
6.5 Other Countries
6.6 Japan Emerges as the Global SOFC Leader; the United States and Europe Follow Behind
References
Chapter 7. History of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
7.1 Introduction
7.2 US National Aeronautics and Space Administration Boosts GE’S PEMFC R&D in the late 1950S
7.3 Canadian Government Decides to Foster Domestic PEMFC Capabilities in the Early 1980S
7.4 A Global Fuel Cell Race Begins
7.5 The Global Fuel Cell Race So Far Fails to Attain Commercial Success
References
Chapter 8. Strengths and Weaknesses of Major Government Fuel Cell R&D Programs: Europe, Japan, and the United States
8.1 Fuel Cell R&D Expenditure: Japan Invests the Most
8.2 Consistency in Policy and Programs: Japan is the Most Constant and Stable
8.3 Soundness Of Program Evaluation: US Evaluation Is The Least Valuable
8.4 Resilience in Industry: Europe is the Least Sturdy
8.5 Fuel Cell Patenting Activity
8.6 The Global Fuel Cell Leader Today
References
Chapter 9. Policy Recommendations
9.1 Difficulties of Perfecting Fuel Cell Technology Never Understood
9.2 Until Recently, Science and Physics too Immature for Fundamental Understanding of Fuel Cell
9.3 Fuel Cell Knowledge Requires Multiple Scientific Disciplines…But Few Institutions have Interdisciplinary Research Capabilities
9.4 Fuel Cell Development Requires Three Levels of Research: Basic Research Supported by Applied Research and Product Development
9.5 Fuel Cell too Valuable to Abandon: Go Back to Basics Now
9.6 Learning from Past Experience to Plan Future Course of Action
9.7 Policy Recommendations: Implementation of the National Fuel Cell Development Project
References
Abbreviations
Index
NB
She worked for the Central Intelligence Agency as a senior analyst and information officer for 20 years. She produced research papers and current assessments in many policy areas, including defense, science and technology, economic policy, and trade issues. Ms. Behling analyzed functional and technical issues, including program analysis, risk assessment, program cost estimation, and global science and technology developments.
She also worked in the private sector for ten years, providing consulting services and analytic support to the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community in the areas of information technology, nuclear energy, and global environmental technology policy issues, including fuel cell technology, low emission vehicles, and hydrogen energy technology. She assisted the National Security Council to formulate two major R&D policy initiatives implemented by the Department of Energy, the FreedomCar Initiative and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative.