Advanced Photovoltaics, Fuel Cells and Batteries

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Size a standalone system using a time series of solar radiation data
• Predict the energy output from a grid connected system
• Research topics on energy storage technologies and find relevant information in the literature
• Write and illustrate a scoping study with appropriate comparative graphs and tables.
• Demonstrate the ability to present and defend a specific topic on energy storage in a team or in front of an audience,
• Construct a model of a semiconductor solar cell and apply it to practical devices
• Plan, design and present a mini-paper (one page) on a selected topic of electrochemistry,

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analyse in detail the performance of solar cells and photovoltaic systems
• Appreciate the strengths and limitations of various electrochemical and other energy storage systems
• Search and critically review technical literature relevant to photovoltaics
• Being able to solve some problems of energy storage, in principle, using electrochemical devices
• Quantitatively describe the performance of an energy storage device for a specific application.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Appreciate the developments in, and requirements for, future of energy storage technologies
• Think, observe, communicate, evaluate information and data, analyse and solve problems
• Communicate ideas and concepts effectively, both orally and in writing within an academic context, on the principles, performance and challenges of these technologies
• Plan and organisation on time and with the available resources
• Team work,
• Outline and develop, in a selected topic of electrochemistry and energy storage, a series of course works which include a critical reflexion and a critical analysis of results together with conclusions, recommendations and references.
• Concept development.
• Individual and group presentations,
• Appreciate and understand the literature on energy storage and their current development,
• Realise the challenges to these technologies and appreciate future development needs.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Stand alone and grid connected photovoltaic systems
• Recognize and explain the fundamental principles of operation that govern electrochemical energy storage devices and appreciate important developments of this technology for applications in automotive, domestic and industrial sectors.
• Physics of charge carrier generation, transport and energy conversion in different types of solar cells including silicon, thin film, dye sensitised and organic solar cells.
• Advanced high efficiency, photochemical and thermodynamic concepts
• Demonstrate their knowledge of different energy storage devices, understand their principles and appreciate their differences
• The optics of antireflection coatings and light trapping

Fuel cells, Electrochemical Energy Conversion: Modern Batteries (lectures + Revision):

• This part of the course outlines energy storage systems and methods, their performance and comparisons. In particular, the course emphasises the principles and applications of

electrochemical energy storage systems with the concept of integrating them into sustainable processes. The course comprises several aspects of fundamental electrochemistry.

• Overview of the most common energy storage systems such as: hydrogen storage, capacitors, and electrochemical energy storage systems. Examples of integrated technology will be shown with calculations of energy efficiency and figures of merit for performance.
• A review of Flow Battery systems and their state of development will be presented with

applications in load levelling and strategic energy management. The link between materials

properties and reactor performance of these systems will be explained.

• A review of the principles and applications of different types of lithium-ion and lead-acid

batteries, electrode materials and electrolyte compositions, memory and ageing effects, charge and discharge behaviours, state of charge and safety.

Advanced Photovoltaic systems (Lectures + Revision):

• Semiconductor physics: Carrier statistics and transport. Collection and quantum efficiency.
• Optics in solar energy conversion: antireflection coatings, concentration of light.
• Advanced topics: photochemical and photosynthetic energy conversion; “3G” mechanisms, thermodynamic concepts
• Dye sensitised, thin film, organic and multi junction solar cells – principles and advances
• Introduction to conversion of solar energy to chemical energy
• Photovoltaic systems: Grid connected and stand-alone systems; sizing.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching methods employed in the delivery of this module include:

• Lectures
• Solutions to assigned problems
• Revision tutorials
• Demonstrations and video material when appropriate
• A web site with access to in-depth materials

The learning activities include:

• Individual reading of background material and course texts, plus work on examples.
• Example sheets and worked solutions.
• Assignment and self-study
• Problem solving during lectures
• Individual work on a case study/mini-project

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

C. Ponce de León, A. Frías-Ferrer, J. González-García, D.A. Szánto, F. C. Walsh (2006). Redox flow cells for energy conversion. Journal of Power Sources, 160, pp. 716.

C. Ponce de León, G.W. Reade, I. Whyte, S.E. Male, F.C. Walsh. (2007). Characterisation of the reaction environment in a filter-press redox flow reactor. Electrochimica Acta, 52, pp. 5815-5823.

Textbooks

T. Markvart and L. Castañer (2003). Practical Handbook of Photovoltaics: Fundamentals and Applications. Oxford: Elsevier.

M. Archer and R. Hill (2001). Clean Electricity from Photovoltaics. London: Imperial College Press / World Scientific.

Pletcher, Derek (2009). A first course in electrode processes.. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry.

A. Luque. S. Hegedus (2003). Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering. Chichester: Wiley.

F. Lasnier and T.G. Ang (1990). Photovoltaic Engineering Handbook. Bristol: Adam Hilger.

T. Markvart (2000). Solar Electricity. Chichester: Wiley.

M.A. Green (1982). Solar Cells: Operating Principles, Technology and Practice. New York: Prentice Hall.

G. Beckmanm and P.V. Gilli. (1984). Thermal energy storage: basics design, applications to power generation and heat supply. Springer.

J. Larminie and A. Dicks (2001). Fuel Cells Systems Explained. Chichester: Wiley.

Bard, Allen J. and Faulkner, Larry R. (2001). Electrochemical methods: fundamentals and applications. Imprint: Hoboken: Wiley,.

Colin A. Vincent and Bruno Scrosati (1997). Modern batteries: An introduction to Electrochemical Power Sources. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

A. Goetzberger, J. Knobloch and B. Voss (1998). Crystalline silicon solar cells. Chichester: Wiley.

Assessment strategy

Teaching takes place mainly in the lecture sessions where the principles are explained and illustrated by examples and relevant applications. Some lectures will be given by an industrial expert on fuel cells to provide a commercial perspective on the technology. Students are expected to learn material through the use of web-based material, by self-study and by problem solving during the lectures/tutorials. Students will carry out an assignment to suggest a suitable fuel cell for a specific application. The corresponding report will be marked and feedback given. The students will also assessed by a 2 hour written examination at the end of the module.

Individual coursework based on experimental demonstration, the students have to produce a one page paper that includes:

1) Brief introduction on the topic

2) Experimental details

3) Results and discussion

4) Conclusions

5) References

For the individual research or problem solving activity, students should be able to present the highlight of the proposed research activity or solve a problem, an example could be:

Question 1) A manufacturer of PEM fuel cells requires the membrane electrode assembly to be fully characterized. Describe the techniques which should be used. Give examples which show techniques for: a) membrane area resistance, b) active Pt electrode area. Relate a) to the stack voltage and b) to the Pt loading degree of utilization.

Question 2) A new energy efficient building is planned and it is suggested that light energy incident on roof mounted solar cells is used together with an electrochemical energy storage system. Provide a general overall design for such a hybrid system. a) specify the types of device, b) explain their principles of operation c) summarize previous experience providing references.

Deadlines:

Deadlines for the course works are one week after they have been assigned. Students are expected to ask about the procedure or any question related to the course work within the week. Penalties for

late handle in are applicable according to the course book.

Feedback: Written feedback is given for each course work, normally within a week

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External