Course

Elective Streams Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Unit 1

Fuel Cells: Types of fuel cells and their application – Thermodynamics, Energy conversion efficiency of fuel cells – Irreversible losses – Modelling approach – loss mechanism – Degradation mechanism and their lifetime – Fuel cells for automotive applications – PEM – polymer membrane – chemical, Mechanical degradation, catalyst, impurities.

Unit 2

Types and Storage of Hydrogen: Operating principles of fuel cells – Electrode potential and current voltage curve – Fuel and oxidant consumption – Fuel cell system characteristics – Fuel cell technologies – Various types of fuel cell and operating characteristics – Fuel supply – Hydrogen storage – Compressed, cryogenic liquid and metal hydride storage – Hydrogen production – Steam, POX and Autothermal reforming – Non-Hydrogen Fuel cells.

Unit 3

Fuel cell drive train design: Configuration, Control strategies, Parametric design, Motor Power Design,- Power design of the fuel Cell system –Design of the power and energy capacity – Design examples for various power requirements and applications– Fuel cell propulsion and hybrid powertrains -Fuel cell vehicles – Layout and basic analysis – Future concepts.

Course Objectives

1. To make students’ understand the thermodynamics underlying different types of fuel cells and their
2. To familiarize in energy conversion efficiency of fuel cells, identifying and mitigating irreversible
3. To introduce students’ on modeling approaches to comprehend loss and degradation mechanisms in fuel
4. To evaluate the suitability of fuel cells for automotive

Course Outcomes

Skills acquired

Energy efficiency analysis, modelling approaches, degradation mechanisms assessment, drive train design and power system design for various applications in fuel cell technology.

Text Books / References

1. MehrdadEhsani, Yimin Gao, Ali Emadi. – ‘Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles’ CRC Press, 2021
2. Viktor Hacker, Shigenori Mitsushim,”Fuel cells and Hydrogen From Fundamentals to Applied Research”x Elsevier, 2018
3. Bent Sorenson, Giuseppe Spazzafumo, “Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Emerging Technologies and Applications”, Acad Presses, 3rd edition.2010.
4. P, “Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Road Transportation”, Springer London Ltd., Springer, 2016.