Micro Power Generation Systems @ MIT

Structure

In the last decade the use of portable electric and electronic devices has increased dramatically and there is a constantly increasing need for efficient autonomous man-portable power supplies (in the range up to 50 W) in a variety of applications and consumers, ranging from cellular phones and laptops for home use to the power needs of the dismounted soldier. Currently, batteries are the predominant technology in most applications. However, batteries have a large environmental impact, high cost and relatively low energy density (Wh/kg and Wh/l). Many alternatives are in theory possible, such as electrochemical conversion of fuels in fuel cells, thermo-photovoltaic cells, a microturbine driving a generator or even exploiting nuclear power, e.g., with thermoelectrical elements. The electrochemical conversion of common fuels and chemicals, such as hydrocarbons or alcohols, in fuel cells has the potential to yield much higher energy densities than state-of-the-art batteries.

The plethora of possible processes and process combinations as well as applications necessitates a a flexible product design methodology. Moreover the systems are highly integrated and there is a strong interaction of layout, design and operation. We have analyzed many alternative designs for micropower generation processes based on the electrochemical conversion of fuels. We have also created a webinterface to our models, in which the user provides operating conditions and design options, and after the models are run on our server using ABACUSS II and DAEPACK, the user obtains key figures such as energy density, fuel flow rates, required process volume and sensitivity of energy density with respect to the operating conditions. Access is free for academic use, subject to approval. Please contact Alexander Mitsos, mitsos at mit.edu to obtain access.

We have created a database for publications on portable power generation. This database is certainly not complete nor perfect; please contact Alexander Mitsos, mitsos at mit.edu for additions or corrections. Please note that we do not assume any responsibility on the correctness of the citations nor for the quality of the publications.

MIT Micro-Power Systems Team

Publications

Journal Articles

Book

Micropower Book A. Mitsos and P. I. Barton Microfabricated Power Generation Devices: Design and Technology. ISBN: 978-3-527-32081-3. January 2009 Available at:

Contents:

  1. A. Mitsos and P. I. Barton Introduction.
  2. V. Hessel, G. Kolb and J. J. Brandner Microfabrication for Energy Generating Devices and Fuel Processors.
  3. K. Deshpande Fuel Processing for Hydrogen Generation.
  4. J. L. Hertz and H. L. Tuller Micro-fuel Cells.
  5. S. Jacobson, H. Li and A. Epstein Microscale Heat Engines.
  6. O. M. Nielsen Thermophotovoltaics.
  7. B. A. Wilhite Thermal Management and System Integration
  8. A. Mitsos and P. I. Barton Selection of Alternatives and Process Design.
  9. B. L. Wardle and S. M. Spearing Structural Considerations
  10. D. G. Vlachos Microreactor Engineering: Processes, Detailed Design and Modeling.
  11. B. Chachuat Optimal Design and Steady-State Operation.
  12. A. T. Stamps and E. Gatzke Design of Hybrid Electrochemical Devices.
  13. M. V. Kothare Control of Microreactors.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

Technical Reports

Presentations in International Conferences

Various presentations

Acknowledgments:

This work was supported by the DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program administered by the Army Research Office under Grant DAAD19-01-1-0566.

Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Association) through grant GSC 111 is gratefully acknowledged.

We would like to acknowledge Klavs F. Jensen and the members of the MIT micro-ChemPower team for fruitful discussions and their input in the formulation of the process alternatives.

Last updated on January 14, 2009