Student-led Development of a Fuel Cell Experimentation System for Alternative Energy Systems Learning

Steven R. Walk

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Innovative Energy Projects
Tagged Division: Energy Conversion and Conservation
Page Count: 15
Page Numbers: 25.1195.1 - 25.1195.15
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--21952
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/21952
Download Count: 515

Paper Authors

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Steven R. Walk Old Dominion University

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Steven Robert Walk, P.E,, is an Assistant Professor of electrical engineering technology in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University. He is Founder and Director of the Laboratory for Technology Forecasting. His research interests include energy conversion systems, technology and innovation management, and technological forecasting and social change. He is Owner and Founder of Technology Intelligence, a management consulting company in Norfolk, Va. Walk earned B.S.E.E.T. and M.S.E.E. degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a University Scholar.

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Abstract

Student-led Development of a Fuel Cell Experimentation System for Alternative Energy Systems LearningAbstractThis paper presents the student-led development and implementation of a new fuel cellexperimentation system, part of a new course in energy conversion systems, created withextensive input and feedback from course-enrolled students and student volunteers.The fuel cell experimentation system consists of the following primary components: photovoltaiccell, electrolyzer, hydrogen gas storage unit, PEM fuel cell Stack, various electrical loads,automated data acquisition system, and data display and analysis software. The equipment waspurchased through partial support of an Electrical and Computer Engineering Department HeadsAssociation Mini-Grant.While the author designed a series of learning opportunities and experiments in fuel cell energyconversion systems, students and volunteers outlined their desired outcomes, completed theinitial experiments, and provided significant feedback to improve the lab goals, procedures, andintended outcomes.The new energy conversion systems course is evolving from a topics-only elective course into arequired lecture/lab course in an energy conversion systems curriculum concentration. Thecourse includes extensive multi-discipline learning, with topics ranging from the physics andchemistry of energy conversion to the design and operation of major generation and transmissionsystems. All topics are presented in the context of environmental issues ranging from energysource availability, environmental pollution and degradation, and energy systems sustainability.Investment in the course continue to acquire more hands-on and experiential learningopportunities including a variety of experimental energy conversion systems, and planned on-sitevisits to installed, full-scale systems.This paper describes the steps taken to design, troubleshoot, and develop the fuel cell systemslearning opportunities and experiments, summaries of student outcomes and comments on theinitial experiments, and the author’s observations and recommendations for other instructorsattempting student-led laboratory design. The results can help shorten the laboratorydevelopment learning curve and alert faculty to common early project errors and omissions to beavoided. More significantly, the results show the value of employing student feedback duringthe laboratory development phase.

Citation
Format

Walk, S. R. (2012, June), Student-led Development of a Fuel Cell Experimentation System for Alternative Energy Systems Learning Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21952

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -       Student-led Development of a Fuel Cell Experimentation System for                    Alternative Energy Systems LearningAbstractThis paper presents the student-led development and implementation of a new fuel cellexperimentation system, part of a new course in energy conversion systems, created withextensive input and feedback from course-enrolled students and student volunteers.The fuel cell experimentation system consists of the following primary components: photovoltaiccell, electrolyzer, hydrogen gas storage unit, PEM fuel cell Stack, various electrical loads,automated data acquisition system, and data display and analysis software. The equipment waspurchased through partial support of an Electrical and Computer Engineering Department HeadsAssociation Mini-Grant.While the author designed a series of learning opportunities and experiments in fuel cell energyconversion systems, students and volunteers outlined their desired outcomes, completed theinitial experiments, and provided significant feedback to improve the lab goals, procedures, andintended outcomes.The new energy conversion systems course is evolving from a topics-only elective course into arequired lecture/lab course in an energy conversion systems curriculum concentration. Thecourse includes extensive multi-discipline learning, with topics ranging from the physics andchemistry of energy conversion to the design and operation of major generation and transmissionsystems. All topics are presented in the context of environmental issues ranging from energysource availability, environmental pollution and degradation, and energy systems sustainability.Investment in the course continue to acquire more hands-on and experiential learningopportunities including a variety of experimental energy conversion systems, and planned on-sitevisits to installed, full-scale systems.This paper describes the steps taken to design, troubleshoot, and develop the fuel cell systemslearning opportunities and experiments, summaries of student outcomes and comments on theinitial experiments, and the author’s observations and recommendations for other instructorsattempting student-led laboratory design. The results can help shorten the laboratorydevelopment learning curve and alert faculty to common early project errors and omissions to beavoided. More significantly, the results show the value of employing student feedback duringthe laboratory development phase.
AU  - Steven R. Walk
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Student-led Development of a Fuel Cell Experimentation System for Alternative Energy Systems Learning
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/21952
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--21952
ER  -