This master’s thesis focuses on optimization of electrode configuration in combination with a polymer membrane (MEA - Membrane Electrode Assembly) in terms of material and technology. The main goal was to create a functional measurement of MEA structures with three different types of carbon materials. The theoretical part focuses on the physical and chemical properties of low-temperature fuel cells with polymer membrane. The experimental section describes the manufacture of catalytic materials with different types of carbon and various contents platinum. Produced by electrode materials were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The next step was to manufacture MEA structures and characteristics of VA measurement using a digitally controlled load in the experimental fuel cell Quintech.

The first part of the research is motivated to provide citations deeper to the literature of optimal control principles that could be linked to the system optimization problem, discuss these principles and various ways to apply them. Then we describe one fuel cell, accumulator and photovoltaic standalone system along with the most used equations from the literature. Next, we formulate the problem of optimal control for this system to optimize the system financial cost in the best case and we process to describe and discuss the numerical optimal control algorithm - multiple shooting - that will be used to solve the problem, that was not used in literature so far in conjunction with the problem. The codes and numerical simulations are also provided. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Novel type of catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells anode is demonstrated. It is based on magnetron sputtered Pt-CeO2 a Pt-Sn-CeO2 mixed oxides. It is shown, that these materials allow to significantly decrease amount of platinum in the anode catalyst. The preparation method yields high amount of platinum in ionized form, especially Pt2+ , which is related to the high activity. Stability of these catalytic layers were investigated under conditions similar to fuel cell anode (humidified hydrogen at elevated temperature). Also interaction of hydrogen a water under UHV conditions were studied, demonstrating high stability of the Pt2+ species. In the last part of the work sputtered Pt-Co mixed catalyst were investigated to be used in the PEMFC cathode. It is demonstrated that at right conditions, the sputtered alloy catalyst improves mass activity on cathode by factor more than two.

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, which serves as a framework for formulating evolution equations of macroscopic and mesoscopic systems, is briefly reviewed and further developed in this work. For example, the relation between the General Equation for the Nonequilibrium Reversible- Irreversible Coupling (GENERIC) and (ir)reversibility is elucidated, and Onsager-Casimir reciprocal relations are shown to be an implication of GENERIC. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is then applied to describe fuel cells and related devices, and theoretical conclusions are compared to experimental data. Moreover, a generalization of standard exergy analysis is developed bringing a new method for revealing a map of useful work losses in electricity producing devices. This method requires a non-equilibrium thermodynamic model, and so the general theory of non- equilibrium thermodynamics and optimization of real power generating devices stand side by side.

Thermodynamic analysis of processes in electrolytic fuel cell membrane Michal Pavelka April 12, 2012 Abstract Hydrogen fuel cells1 may become a key technology of 21st century, and it is important to be able to describe their behavior, therefore. In this work we focus on hydrogen fuel cells with a polymer-electrolyte membrane. For the membrane we adopt an existing model2 . We for- mulate the model in the framework of the mixture theory which we develop similarly as has been done in the classical textbook of Mazur and de Groot3 . However, refining the concept of potential energy of a material point, we introduce new terms called internal potential ener- gies which enable us to describe macroscopic consequences of internal forces between water and polymer in the membrane and to describe the influence of gradient of surface tension of water in the membrane. We solve the model in 1D approximation. Consequently, we calculate the influence processes in the membrane have on efficiency of the fuel cell. 1 see for example Larminie, J. and A. Dicks. Fuel Cell Systems Explained. 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2003. ISBN 0-470-84857-X. 2 Weber, A. Z. and J. Newman. Transport in Polymer-Electrolyte Membranes I, II, III. J. Electrochem. Soc., 150 (7), A1008-A1015, 2003; 151 (2), A1311-A1325, 2004.; 151 (2), A1326-A1339,...

Pro zpracování a nakládání s odpadními substráty lze použít řadu postupů a možností. Stále se rozšiřující spektrum metod a technologií umožňuje další využití materiálů a energie ve formě obnovitelných zdrojů. Jedním z řešení pro zpětné získávání některých odpadních materiálů je využití tzv. bílé (průmyslové) biotechnologie, která zahrnuje praktickou aplikaci metabolických aktivit celé řady různých mikroorganizmů včetně jejich specifických biologických drah k produkci látek s vysokou přidanou hodnotou. V předložené práci screeningového typu bylo pro zhodnocení odpadních surovin využito několik druhů mikroorganizmů kultivovaných za různých specifických podmínek včetně kultivace na odpadních materiálech získaných zejména ze zemědělství a potravinářství. Cílem bylo získání vybraných typů průmyslově cenných metabolitů, případně energie. Předložená studie byla zaměřena na srovnání růstu a produkčních vlastností několika kmenů karotenogenních kvasinek rodu Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces a Cystofilobasidium, kultivovaných v médiích s obsahem glycerolu (technický a odpadní glycerol), dále v médiích obsahujících pšeničnou slámu, hydrolyzovanou slámu zpracovanou v hydrotermálním procesu při vysoké teplotě a zbytky po filtraci hydrolyzátu. Dalším testovaným odpadním substrátem byla syrovátka. Všechny testované kvasinky byly schopny využít glycerol jako jediný zdroj uhlíku. Produkce biomasy při kultivaci na technickém glycerolu se více či méně přibližovala kontrole (cca 7 - 10 gl-1), zatímco při kultivaci na odpadním glycerolu byla produkce vyšší (10.9 - 14.5 gl-1). Produkce karotenoidů a ergosterolu byla vyšší v glukózovém médiu než v médiu s obsahem glycerolu. Všechny testované kvasinky byly rovněž schopny produkovat neutrální lipidy, a to v rozmezí 11 - 15 %, s výjimkou C. capitatum, kde produkce dosahovala více než 22 % obsahu neutrálních lipidů. Pšeničná sláma a produkty z ní připravené se ukázaly být využitelnými substráty s vysokým potenciálem pro produkci biomasy i metabolitů, a to zejména u kmene S. roseus. Syrovátka, jako odpadní produkt mlékarenství, byla účinně využita jako substrát pro kokultivaci karotenogenních kvasinek a bakterií mléčného kvašení. Kokultivační proces může vyvolat nadprodukci pigmentů a ergosterolu, přičemž získaná biomasa díky obohacení o bakterie L. casei dosahovala vyšší kvality. Za účelem energetického využití mikrobiálního metabolismu formou mikrobiálních palivových článků, tzv. „Microbial Fuel Cell“ byla aplikována směsná kultura bakterií získaných z čistírny odpadních vod. Tyto mikroorganizmy hrají významnou roli při výrobě elektrické energie a současně také při čištění odpadních vod. Elektřina je generována přímo z organických látek přítomných v kultivačním médiu a lze ji použít pro provoz čistírny samotné a případně i pro další aplikace.

Present doctoral thesis is focused on electron microscopy and spectroscopy investigation of novel metal-oxide anode catalyst for fuel cell application. Catalyst based on Pt- doped cerium oxide in form of thin layers prepared by simultaneous magnetron sputtering deposition on intermediate carbonaceous films grown on silicon substrate has been studied. The influence of catalyst support composition (a-C and CNx films), deposition time of CeOx layer and other deposition parameters, as deposition rate, composition of working atmosphere and Pt concentration on the morphology of Pt-CeOx layers has been investigated mainly by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The obtained results have shown that by suitable preparation conditions combination we are able to tune final morphology and composition of catalyst. Composition of carbonaceous films and Pt-CeOx layers was examined by complementary spectroscopy techniques - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Such prepared porous structures of Pt-CeOx are of promising as anode catalytic material for real fuel cell application. Keywords: cerium oxide, platinum, fuel cell, magnetron sputtering, Transmission Electron Microscopy

The doctoral thesis deals with investigation of the catalysts and ionexchanege membranes for fuel cells H2-O2. The work contains the basic principles of chemical reactions, thermodynamic aspects and kinetic properties in PEM fuel cells.Ion-exchagers based on fluorinated polymer sulfonic acids known as NAFION are used in most cases. These compounds are very expensive. Also a strong corrosive attribute requires platinum as a catalysator. These facts make the membrane fuel cells fully non-competetive with e.g. internal combustion engine in spite of all ecological advantages of this electrical power source. The subject of doctoral thesis is research and development of compounds for the composite electrode materials base on NiOx, Ni-Pd and Raney Ni suitable as catalysts a nd alkaline or bipolar ionexchange membranes for electrochemical fuel cells.

The subject of this master’s thesis is the design of an autonomous snow groomer intended for the treatment of well-geodetically mapped slopes of ski resorts. Designed design uses an innovative approach to detecting the thickness of a snow cover by an electromagnetic sensor system. The work identifies and presents the concept of solving specific problems of autonomous operation in ski areas, in the form of a design vision. This concept is presented and verified using a parametric model.

This thesis deals with diagnostic fuel-cell parameters using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The document begins with brief explanation of fuel-cell operation and its basic principles. Thesis continues with description of fuel-cell voltage generation and influence of charge dual-layer on impedance. After that electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, signals used for perturbation and evaluation of impedance spectrum using Bode a Nyquist plot is described. Next part explains measurement of impedance spectrum using potentiostat in combination with lock-in amplifier or frequency response analyzer. Practical part of thesis is dedicated to electric circuit design of EIS module and software designed for automatic measurement of impedance spectrum. Last part shows results of EIS module testing.