Reactive spray deposition technology (RSDT) is a method of depositing films or producing nanopowders through combustion of metal-organic compounds dissolved in a solvent. This technology produces powders of controllable size and quality by changing process parameters to control the stoichiometry of the final product. This results in a low-cost, continuous production method suitable for producing a wide range of fuel cell related catalyst films or powders. In this work, the system is modified for direct deposition of both unsupported and carbon supported layers on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The cell performance is investigated for platinum loadings of less than 0.15 mg/cm² using a heterogeneous bi-layer consisting of a layer of unsupported platinum followed by a composite layer of Nafion®, carbon and platinum. Comparison to more traditional composite cathode architectures is made at loadings of 0.12 and 0.05 mg platinum/cm². The composition and phase of the platinum catalyst is confirmed by XPS and XRD analysis while the particle size is analyzed by TEM microscopy. Cell voltages of 0.60 V at 1 A/cm² using H₂/O₂ at a loading of 0.053 mg platinum/cm² have been achieved.

Reactive spray deposition technology (RSDT) is a method of depositing films or producing nanopowders through combustion of metal-organic compounds dissolved in a solvent. This technology produces powders of controllable size and quality by changing process parameters to control the stoichiometry of the final product. This results in a low-cost, continuous production method suitable for producing a wide range of fuel cell related catalyst films or powders. In this work, the system is modified for direct deposition of both unsupported and carbon supported layers on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The cell performance is investigated for platinum loadings of less than 0.15 mg/cm² using a heterogeneous bi-layer consisting of a layer of unsupported platinum followed by a composite layer of Nafion®, carbon and platinum. Comparison to more traditional composite cathode architectures is made at loadings of 0.12 and 0.05 mg platinum/cm². The composition and phase of the platinum catalyst is confirmed by XPS and XRD analysis while the particle size is analyzed by TEM microscopy. Cell voltages of 0.60 V at 1 A/cm² using H₂/O₂ at a loading of 0.053 mg platinum/cm² have been achieved.

Reactive spray deposition technology (RSDT) is a method of depositing films or producing nanopowders through combustion of metal-organic compounds dissolved in a solvent. This technology produces powders of controllable size and quality by changing process parameters to control the stoichiometry of the final product. This results in a low-cost, continuous production method suitable for producing a wide range of fuel cell related catalyst films or powders. In this work, the system is modified for direct deposition of both unsupported and carbon supported layers on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The cell performance is investigated for platinum loadings of less than 0.15 mg/cm² using a heterogeneous bi-layer consisting of a layer of unsupported platinum followed by a composite layer of Nafion®, carbon and platinum. Comparison to more traditional composite cathode architectures is made at loadings of 0.12 and 0.05 mg platinum/cm². The composition and phase of the platinum catalyst is confirmed by XPS and XRD analysis while the particle size is analyzed by TEM microscopy. Cell voltages of 0.60 V at 1 A/cm² using H₂/O₂ at a loading of 0.053 mg platinum/cm² have been achieved. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mechanical Engineering, Department of / Graduate

This thesis studies the influence of internal nozzle flow characteristics over a large spectrum of experimental conditions and diagnostics. Experiments were carried out for two nozzle geometries---cylindrical and conical single hole nozzles---and three different fuels. Two of the fuels are pure components---n-heptane and n-dodecane---while the third fuel consists of a three-component surrogate to better represent the physical and chemical properties of diesel fuel. Measurements include a complete hydraulic characterization consisting of instantaneous injection rate and spray momentum flux measurements; a high-speed visualization of isothermal liquid spray; a high-speed visualization of the evaporative inert spray, imaging liquid and vapor phases simultaneously and finally, a high-speed visualization of the high temperature reactive spray, imaging vapor phase and OH* chemiluminescence for each injection event. All high-temperature diagnostics were performed in a continuous flow test chamber that allows an accurate control on a wide range of thermodynamic conditions (up to 1000 K and 15 MPa). The experimental findings from this work, and the large database obtained (available for download at: http://www.cmt.upv.es/DD01.aspx), could be used to validate CFD models that could help the community understand the fundamental driving mechanisms behind these observations. / En esta tesis se estudia la influencia del flujo interno sobre un amplio espectro de condiciones y diagnósticos experimentales. Se realizaron experimentos para dos geometrías de tobera---toberas cilíndrica y cónica de un único orificio---y tres combustibles. Dos de los combustibles son puros---n-heptano y n-dodecano--- mientras el tercero es un combustible sustituto que consiste en una mezcla de tres componentes que busca representar mejor las propiedades físicas y químicas del diesel. Las medidas incluyen una caracterización hidráulica completa, compuesta por tasa de inyección y cantidad de movimiento instantáneas; una visualización de alta velocidad del chorro líquido isotermo; una visualización de alta velocidad del chorro inerte evaporativo, con captura simultánea de las fases líquida y vapor y, finalmente, una visualización del chorro reactivo a alta temperatura, con captura de la fase vapor y la quimioluminiscencia del radical OH* para cada evento de inyección. Todos los diagnósticos en condiciones de alta temperatura fueron realizados en una maqueta de alta presión y temperatura de flujo constante que permite controlar con precisión un rango amplio de condiciones termodinámicas (hasta 1000 K y 15 MPa). Los resultados experimentales y la gran base de datos obtenida en este trabajo (disponible en: http://www.cmt.upv.es/DD01.aspx), podrían ser utilizados para validar modelos CFD detallados que podrían ayudar a la comunidad científica a entender mejor los mecanismos fundamentales que producen los resultados observados. / Aquesta tesi estudia la influència del flux intern sobre un gran espectre de condicions i diagnòstics experimentals. Es van realitzar experiments per a dos geometries de tovera---toveres ci¿líndrica i cónica amb un únic orifici---i tres combustibles. Dos dels combustibles són purs---n-heptà i n-dodecà--- mentre el tercer combustible consisteix en una mescla de tres components que formen un combustible substitut que busca representar millor les propietats físiques i químiques del dièsel. Les mesures inclouen una caracterització hidràulica completa, composta per taxa d'injecció i quantitat de moviment instantanis; visualització d'alta velocitat del doll líquid isoterme; visualització d'alta velocitat del doll inert evaporatiu, capturant simultàniament les fases líquid i vapor i, finalment, una visualització del doll reactiu a alta temperatura, capturant la fase vapor i la quimioluminiscència del radical OH per a cada esdeveniment d'injecció. Tots els diagnòstics en condicions d'alta temperatura van ser realitzats en una insta¿lació d'alta pressió i temperatura amb flux constant que permet controlar amb precisió un ampli rang de condicions termodinàmiques (fins a 1000 K i 15 MPa). Els resultats experimentals i la gran base de dades obtinguda en aquest treball (disponible a la web en: http://www.cmt.upv.es/dd01.aspx), podrien ser utilitzats per tal de validar models CFD detallats que podrien ajudar a la comunitat científica a entendre millor els mecanismes fonamentals que produeixen aquestes observacions. / Viera Sotillo, JP. (2017). Experimental study of the effect of nozzle geometry on the performance of direct-injection diesel sprays for three different fuels [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/81857