A Mems Based Fuel Cell For Microscale Energy Conversion

A novel approach to realize a miniature fuel cell power source by combining thin film solid-oxide or proton exchange membrane electrolyte-electrode materials with MEMS techniques to integrate a fuel cell stack monolithically on a manifolded host structure is described. This architecture enable a scalable, portable fuel cell power source system for a broad range of applications having power requirements in the 1 W to 10 W regime. The MEMS approach offers a direct means to integrate the fuel cell stack with required manifolding and fuel delivery system, while providing the means to control the performance of the power source for specific applications. Results describing the fabrication, integration, and testing of MEMS-based fuel cells are presented below.

Energiegewinnung im Mikromaßstab -- eine Alternative zu Energiespeichern (Batterien, Akkumulatoren) für mobile elektrische Geräte? Durchaus, wie dieser Band eindrucksvoll zeigt. Die einzelnen Beiträge, verfasst von international anerkannten Fachleuten, befassen sich mit Grundlagen der Energiegewinnung, Strategien und Designfragen bis hin zur konkreten technischen Umsetzung. Ergänzend werden Themen wie die Verarbeitung und Bereitstellung von Brennstoffen, die Steuerung von Stoff- und Wärmeströmen sowie Fragen der Wirtschaftlichkeit und Qualitätssicherung besprochen.

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based thin-film fuel cells for electrical power applications. The MEMS-based fuel cell may be of a solid oxide type (SOFC), a solid polymer type (SPFC), or a proton exchange membrane type (PEMFC), and each fuel cell basically consists of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte layer. Additionally catalyst layers can also separate the electrodes (cathode and anode) from the electrolyte. Gas manifolds are utilized to transport the fuel and oxidant to each cell and provide a path for exhaust gases. The electrical current generated from each cell is drawn away with an interconnect and support structure integrated with the gas manifold. The fuel cells utilize integrated resistive heaters for efficient heating of the materials. By combining MEMS technology with thin-film deposition technology, thin-film fuel cells having microflow channels and full-integrated circuitry can be produced that will lower the operating temperature an will yield an order of magnitude greater power density than the currently known fuel cells.

With its inclusion of the fundamentals, systems and applications, this reference provides readers with the basics of micro energy conversion along with expert knowledge on system electronics and real-life microdevices. The authors address different aspects of energy harvesting at the micro scale with a focus on miniaturized and microfabricated devices. Along the way they provide an overview of the field by compiling knowledge on the design, materials development, device realization and aspects of system integration, covering emerging technologies, as well as applications in power management, energy storage, medicine and low-power system electronics. In addition, they survey the energy harvesting principles based on chemical, thermal, mechanical, as well as hybrid and nanotechnology approaches. In unparalleled detail this volume presents the complete picture -- and a peek into the future -- of micro-powered microsystems.

Combining engineering and medicine research projects with biological applications, the contributions in this volume constitute the efforts of both distinguished scientists and young investigators in various fields of biomedical engineering at Tohoku University, one of Japan''s leading scientific research universities. The Tohoku University 21st Century COE Program OC Future Medical Engineering Based on BionanotechnologyOCO is OCo out of 113 programmes chosen by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2002 OCo the only one program devoted to biomedical engineering. This book comprises the proceedings of the final closing symposium to be held in January 2007, and summarizes all the efforts of the program in a comprehensive manner. In total, more than 100 authors from the engineering and medical schools of Tohoku University have contributed to this volume, through which readers can understand all the research results carried out under the umbrella of the program. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: An Electrochemical Microsystem for Manipulating Living Cells (910 KB). Contents: Cellular Function and Molecular Operation: Progress of Our Research in Auditory Mechnaics (H Wada); Generation of Stable Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Lines Expressing the Motor Protein Prestin (K Iida et al.); Protection of Outer Hair Cells from Traumatic Noise by Conditioning with Heat Stress (M Murakoshi et al.); Time-Lapse Observation of Neural Epithelium Cell Behavior in Slice Culture (N Nakamura et al.); Nano-Medicine: Development of Novel Medical Engineering Using Micro-Nanomachining (M Esashi); Biomimetic Artificial Myocardium Using Nano Technology (T Yambe); MEMS-Based Fuel Cell for Portable Medical Applications (K-B Min et al.); Lithium Niobate Bulk Micromachining for Medical Sensors (A Randles et al.); Imaging of the Biological Molecule and Structure: Brain Imaging of Quality of Life Using Positron Emission Tomography (M Itoh & M Tashiro); Human Brain Metabolic Changes Induced by Actual Car-Driving (M Jeong et al.); Automatic Medical Image Registration Using Mutual Information (K Kumagai et al.); The Comparison of Brain Structure Between Exercised and Non-Exercised Students (H Sensui et al.); Medical Informatics: Computational Approaches to Hemodynamics Analysis from Micro to Macro Scales (T Yamaguchi); A Fluid-Solid Interaction Study of the Pulse Wave Velocity in Uniform Arteries (T Fukui et al.); CFD Tools in Engineering Design Studies and Medical Sciences (P S Kulkarni); Evaluation of an Index for Cardiac Function During Assitance with a Rotary Blood Pump (D Ogawa et al.); and other papers. Readership: Postgraduate students and researchers in biomedical engineering."

Including chemical, synthetic, and cross-disciplinary approaches; this book includes the necessary techniques and technologies to help readers better understand polymers for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The methods in the book are essential to researchers and scientists in the field and will lead to further development in polymer and fuel cell technologies. • Provides complete, essential, and comprehensive overview of polymer applications for PEM fuel cells • Emphasizes state-of-the-art developments and methods, like PEMs for novel fuel cells and polymers for fuel cell catalysts • Includes detailed chapters on major topics, like PEM for direct liquid fuel cells and fluoropolymers and non-fluorinated polymers for PEM • Has relevance to a range of industries – like polymer engineering, materials, and green technology – involved with fuel cell technologies and R&D

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based thin-film fuel cells for electrical power applications. The MEMS-based fuel cell may be of a solid oxide type (SOFC), a solid polymer type (SPFC), or a proton exchange membrane type (PEMFC), and each fuel cell basically consists of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte layer. The electrolyte layer can consist of either a solid oxide or solid polymer material, or proton exchange membrane electrolyte materials may be used. Additionally catalyst layers can also separate the electrodes (cathode and anode) from the electrolyte. Gas manifolds are utilized to transport the fuel and oxidant to each cell and provide a path for exhaust gases. The electrical current generated from each cell is drawn away with an interconnect and support structure integrated with the gas manifold. The fuel cells utilize integrated resistive heaters for efficient heating of the materials. By combining MEMS technology with thin-film deposition technology, thin-film fuel cells having microflow channels and full-integrated circuitry can be produced that will lower the operating temperature an will yield an order of magnitude greater power density than the currently known fuel cells.

Fuel cells are clean and efficient energy conversion devices expected to be the next generation power source. During more than 17 decades of research and development, various types of fuel cells have been developed with a view to meet the different energy demands and application requirements. Scientists have devoted a great deal of time and effort

Today's consumers of portable electronics consumers are demanding devices not only deliver more power but also work healthy for the environment. This fact alone has lead major corporations like Intel, BIC, Duracell and Microsoft to believe that Microfuel Cells could be the next-generation power source for electronic products. Compact and readable, Microfuels Principles and Applications, offers engineers and product designers a reference unsurpassed by any other in the market. The book starts with a clear and rigorous exposition of the fundamentals engineering principles governing energy conversion for small electronic devices, followed by self-contained chapters concerning applications. The authors provide original points of view on all types of commercially available micro fuel cells types, including micro proton exchange membrane fuel cells, micro direct methanol fuel cells, micro solid oxide fuel cells and micro bio-fuel cells. The book also contains a detailed introduction to the fabrication of the components and the assembly of the system, making it a valuable reference both in terms of its application to product design and understanding micro engineering principles. An overview of the micro fuel cell systems and applications A detailed introduction to the fabrication of the components and the assembly of the system Original points of view on prospects of micro fuel cells

The collaboration and research that was developed to produce the MIT Gas Turbine Engine are described in this book. Both the engine and generator are fabricated from silicon using a combination of bulk and surface microfabrication technologies. The book discusses the technical details that have gone into producing the engine and the overall systems-level tradeoffs, in particular its motor compressors and turbine generators, and the decisions that have been made.