Elise B. Fox

Enhanced Thermal Performance of Ionic Liquid-Al2O3 Nanofluid as Heat Transfer Fluid for Solar Collector

Next generation Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) system requires high operating temperature and high heat storage capacity heat transfer fluid (HTF), which can significantly increase the overall system efficiency for power generation. In the last decade several research going on the efficacy of ionic liquids (ILs) as a HTF in CSP system. ILs possesses superior thermophysical properties compare to currently using HTF such as Therminol VP-1 (mixture of biphenyl and diphenyl oxide) and thermal oil. However, advanced thermophysical properties of ILs can be achieved by dispersing small volume percentage of nanoparticles forming nanofluids, which is called Nanoparticle Enhanced Ionic Liquids (NEILs). In the present study NEILs were prepared by dispersing 0.5% Al2O3 nanoparticles (spherical and whiskers) in N-butyl-N, N, N-trimetylammonium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imide ([N4111][NTf2]) IL. Viscosity, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of NEILs were measured experimentally and compared with the existing theoretical models for liquid–solid suspensions. Additional, the convective heat transfer experiment was performed to investigate thermal performance. The thermal conductivity of NEILs enhanced by ∼5%, heat capacity enhanced by ∼20% compared to the base IL, which also gives 15% enhancement in heat transfer performance.Copyright

Radiation Stability of Nafion Membranes Used for Isotope Separation by Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis

Abstract Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMEs) have potential interest for use for hydrogen isotope separation from water. In order for PEMEs to be fully utilized, more information is needed on the stability of Nafion when exposed to radiation. This work examines Nafion 117 under varying total dosage and dose rate and in water or air. Analytical tools, such as infrared spectroscopy, ion exchange capacity, dynamic mechanical analysis, and total inorganic carbon-total organic carbon (TIC-TOC) were used to characterize the exposed membranes. The water from saturated membranes was analyzed by fluoride and sulfate emissions and TIC-TOC, which provided important data on the stability of the membranes during radiation exposure.

The Effect of Low Concentrations of Tetrachloroethylene on the Performance of PEM Fuel Cells

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells use components that are susceptible to contaminants in the fuel stream. To ensure fuel quality, standards are being set to regulate the amount of impurities allowable in fuel. The present study investigates the effect of chlorinated impurities on fuel cell systems using tetrachloroethylene (PCE) as a model compound for cleaning and degreasing agents. Concentrations between 0.05 parts per million (ppm) and 30 ppm were studied. We show how PCE causes rapid drop in cell performances for all concentrations including 0.05 ppm. At concentrations of 1 and 0.05 ppm, PCE poisoned the cell at a rate dependent on the dosage of the contaminant delivered to the cell. PCE appears to affect the cell when the cell potential was over potentials higher than approximately 0.2 V. No effects were observed at voltages around or below 0.2 V and the cells could be recovered from previous poisoning performed at higher potentials. Recoveries at those low voltages could be induced by changing the operating voltage or by purging the system. Poisoning did not appear to affect the membrane conductivity. Measurements with long-path length IR results suggested catalytic decomposition of the PCE by hydrogen over the anode catalyst.

Heat Transfer and Flow Behavior of Nanoparticle Enhanced Ionic Liquids (NEILs)

Experimental investigations were carried out to characterize forced convection behavior of Nanoparticle Enhanced Ionic Liquids (NEILs). 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis{(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} imide ([C4mim][NTf2]) was used as the base ionic liquid (IL) with 0.5% (weight%) loading of Al2O3 nanoparticles. Flow experiments were conducted in a circular tube in the laminar flow regime. Convection results from IL without nanoparticles were used as the base line data for comparison with convection results with NEIL. Viscosity and thermal conductivity of the NEIL and base IL were also measured. NEIL displayed superior thermal performance compared to the base IL. An average of 13% enhancement in heat transfer coefficient was found for the NEIL compared with that of the base IL. Probable reasons of these enhancements are discussed in the paper.Copyright

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF NATURAL CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER OF IONIC LIQUID IN A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE HEATED FROM BELOW

This paper presents an experimental study of natural convection heat transfer for an Ionic Liquid. The experiments were performed for 1-butyl-2, 3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, ([C{sub 4}mmim][NTf{sub 2}]) at a Raleigh number range of 1.26 x 10{sup 7} to 8.3 x 10{sup 7}. In addition to determining the convective heat transfer coefficients, this study also included experimental determination of thermophysical properties of [C{sub 4}mmim][NTf{sub 2}] such as, density, viscosity, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. The results show that the density of [C{sub 4}mmim][NTf{sub 2}] varies from 1.437-1.396 g/cm{sup 3} within the temperature range of 10-50 C, the thermal conductivity varies from 0.105-0.116 W/m.K between a temperature of 10 to 60 C, the heat capacity varies from 1.015 J/g.K - 1.760 J/g.K within temperature range of 25-340 C and the viscosity varies from 18cp-243cp within temperature range 10-75 C. The results for density, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and viscosity were in close agreement with the values in the literature. Measured dimensionless Nusselt number was observed to be higher for the ionic liquid than that of DI water. This is expected as Nusselt number is the ratio of heat transfer by convection to conduction and the ionic liquid has lower thermal conductivity (approximately 18%) than DI water.

Hydrogen isotope recovery using a cathode water vapor feed PEM electrolyzer

Abstract A critical component of tritium glovebox operations is the recovery of high value tritium from the water vapor in the glove box atmosphere. One proposed method to improve existing tritium recovery systems is to replace the disposable hot magnesium beds used to separate the hydrogen and oxygen in water with continuous use Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEMEs). This study examines radiation exposure to the membrane of a PEME and examines the sizing difference that would be needed if the electrolyzer were operated with a cathode water vapor feed instead of an anode liquid water feed.

Natural Convection in Rectangular Cavity With Nanoparticle Enhanced Ionic Liquids (NEILs)

A systematic natural convection heat transfer experiment has been carried out of nanoparticle enhanced ionic liquids (NEILs) in rectangular enclosures (lengthxwidthxheight, 50×50×50mm and 50×50×75mm) heated from below condition. In the present experiment NEIL was made of N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl} imide, ([C4mpyrr][NTf2]) ionic liquid with 0.5% (weight%) Al2O3 nanoparticles. In addition to characterize the natural convection behavior of NEIL, thermophysical properties such as thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and viscosity were also measured. The result shows that the thermal conductivity of NEIL enhanced ∼3% from the base ionic liquid (IL), heat capacity enhanced ∼12% over the measured temperature range. The natural convection experimental result shows consistent for two different enclosures based on the degrading natural convection heat transfer rate over the measured Rayleigh number range. Possible reasons of the degradation of natural convection heat transfer may be the relative change of the thermophysical properties of NEIL compare to the base ionic liquid.Copyright

EFFECTS OF TRITIUM GAS EXPOSURE ON POLYMERS

Abstract Effects of tritium gas exposure on various polymers have been studied over the last several years. Despite the deleterious effects of beta exposure on many material properties, structural polymers continued to be used in tritium systems. Improved understanding of the tritium effects will allow more resistant materials to be selected. Currently polymers find use mainly in tritium gas sealing applications (eg. valve stem tips, O-rings). Future uses being evaluated including polymeric based cracking of tritiated water, and polymer-based sensors of tritium.

Structure/Property Relations in Bulk Versus Solution Derived Proton Conducting Ceramics of the Form SrCe 0.95 Yb 0.05 O 3 With Applications in Membrane Separations

Membrane separations are a key enabling technology for future energy conversion devices. Ionic transport membranes must have both proton and electronic conductivity to function as hydrogen separation membranes without an external power supply. A technical obstacle to material modification by compositional changes is that the hydrogen flux through a dense membrane is a function of both the proton ionic conductivity and the electronic conductivity. An alternative way to modify the materials conductivity without changing the ratio of the chemical constituents is by altering the microstructure. In this study, SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3 was produced by conventional mixed oxide bulk ceramic techniques and chemical solution routes self-rising approaches using urea as the leavening agent. In conventional ceramic processing routes, the perovskite phase was observed to form at temperatures near 1300C, while solution techniques resulted in perovskite phase formation starting near 1000C with complete phase transformations occurring at 1100C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted in various gas atmospheres resulting in bulk oxide route powders exhibiting a 0.6% weight loss at 800C under a nitrogen environment as compared to chemically derived powders which displayed weight losses on the order of 3.4%.The increase weight loss observed in chemically derived SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3 is correlated with an increase in the number of electron charge carriers and results in elevated electronic conduction. This study will report on the development structure property relations in the model proton conducting ceramic system SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3.

Mass Transport Limitations in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

The performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and Electrolyzers (PEME) is subject to mass transport limitations. Within this chapter we will discuss the origination of those limitations and the current research efforts for mitigation. Hydrogen powered fuel cells operate based on the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, (Figure 1) where the anode reaction is found in Eq. 1, the cathode reaction in Eq. 2 and the overall reaction in Eq. 3. The reverse of this reaction (Eq. 4) is electrolysis. Where, in the electrolyzer the anode reaction is Eq. 5 and the cathode reaction is Eq. 6.