Chris Edwards, mechanical engineering

Achieving efficient engine operation is one of the clearest, most-economical paths to mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Consumption of significantly less fuel per unit of work done provides a method of greenhouse gas mitigation that is immediately attractive to consumers, and therefore requires no incentives other than individuals or organizations acting in self-interest.

When it comes to engines used for transportation and distributed generation (< 500 kW output), piston engines dominate since gas turbines of such a small size are significantly less efficient than their larger counterparts. Similarly, use of fuel cells has been, and is continuing to be investigated for this size range, but cost has been shown to be a challenge given current levels of efficiency.

What we would like to pursue is an exploratory study of the best ways to combine piston-cylinder, internal-combustion-based reaction with electrochemical reaction in order to achieve efficiencies in excess of 70% for transportation and distributed generation engines (< 500 kW).

Specifically, we would like to:

(1) Perform an experimental investigation of how a piston-cylinder engine can be used to provide the fuel pre-processing function required by particular types of fuel cell,

(2) Perform an experimental investigation of how a piston-cylinder engine can be used to provide post-fuel-cell, anode-gas oxidation with simultaneous work extraction, and

(3) Perform system modeling studies that show both how these technologies can best be combined and establish the efficiency potential for the new, combined approach.