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Seminar Series
February 28, 2008 110 Cummington Street, |
Prabhakar Singh Materials Corrosion in SOFC Power Generation Systems: An Overview |
| Abstract: Intermediate and high temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generation systems offer significantly higher chemical to electrical conversion efficiency (compared to ICE and low temperature fuel cell systems) in kWe to MWe systems size range, flexibility of operation on a multiples of hydrocarbon and coal derived fuels, negligible gaseous and particulate matters (PM’s) emissions, and the potential for green house gas (GHG) separation and sequestration. SOFC’s operate in 600-1000C temperature range and utilize a wide variety of metallic and ceramic materials for the construction of cell stacks and balance of plant (BOP). Exposure conditions vary from simple oxidizing and reducing conditions representative of the oxidant and fuel gases to bi-polar (simultaneous exposure to oxidant and fuel) exposure conditions. A review of surface (oxidation, carburization etc.), interface (solid state reaction and compound formation) and bulk (internal oxidation, void formation, precipitation etc.) processes operating at cell and stack exposure temperatures will be presented. Underlying mechanisms and thermochemical analysis will be discussed.
Bio: Dr. Prabhakar Singh holds a PhD and MS (Distinction) degree in metallurgy from University of Sheffield and Indian Institute of Science respectively. Dr. Singh also holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Singh holds more than 50 US patents and trade secrets in advanced materials, fuel cell system operation, process optimization, hydrocarbon fuel processing, hydrogen separation and electrical management of fuel cell systems. He has also written more than 100 patent disclosures related to areas of advanced metallic and ceramic materials, device design, low cost fabrication and reliability enhancement. Dr. Singh has authored or coauthored more than 100 technical reports and papers along with 3 book chapters. For his outstanding contributions to technology, product development mentoring, and education, several technical societies have honored him by selecting him a Fellow of the Society. He is a Fellow of ASM International (Class of 1998), American Ceramic Society (Class of 2003) and National Association of Corrosion Engineers (Class of 2008) and serves as Chairman on several technical committees. Dr. Singh has received outstanding performance award (2005), outstanding innovator award (1990), and Award of Excellence (1988). Dr. Singh serves on the Editorial board of ASME and ACerSoc. Dr. Prabhakar Singh joined Pacific Northwest National laboratory in April 2000 to manage and direct the advanced solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) development activities of the NETL-PNNL led USDOE SECA Core Technology Program. Prior to joining PNNL, Dr. Singh held several key technical and management positions at Ford Motor Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Fuel cell Energy where he was responsible for the technology development, systems integration and product testing. While at Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation (an enterprise of Ford Motor Company), he managed the PEM fuel cell R&D including fuel cell system and advanced “on board” fuel processing technologies development for land based and automotive prime propulsion applications, his technical activities were focused on solid oxide fuel cell development at Westinghouse electric corporation. At Fuel Cell Energy, Dr. Singh led the development work on corrosion tolerant materials, creep tolerant electrodes and scale up. His contributions have led to the development of advanced bi-polar materials and ODS anode - currently being used in the commercial stack. |
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