Project Info
Hybrid Electricity
Neal Sullivan | nsulliva@mines.edu
The project is named “INTEGRATE”. The technical goal of INTEGRATE is to combine state-of-the-art solid-oxide fuel cells with an internal combustion engine to form a high-performance, low-cost electric generator. The project includes industrial and academic collaboration; industrial partners include Air-Squared, Inc, CeresPower, and Kohler Power Systems. Our academic collaborator is Colorado State University. The Colorado Fuel Cell Center is characterizing fuel-cell performance under the unique operating conditions found with hybrid operation. The MURF fellow will become engaged with a team of researchers to advance our knowledge of fuel cells, and integrated systems.
The Colorado Fuel Cell Center is a national leader in research and development of ceramic electrochemical devices. The equipment base is extensive. Interested students are advised to visit the CFCC website:
cfcc.mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Student is required to attend the basic lab safety training offered by Environmental Health and Safety at Mines. None otherwise.
Time Commitment
6-8 hours/week
Skills/Techniques Gained
Experimentation with high-temperature batteries, hazardous materials handling (H2, CH4, etc.), fuel-cell and battery performance, electrochemical principles.
Mentoring Plan
Student will work within a team of researchers, including the faculty advisor, an assistant research professor, and a research engineer. This team is well positioned to appropriately mentor and advance the knowledge of the fellow.