[10/25] The 4th WPI-AIMR Joint Seminar in FY2013

10/18/2013

The 4th WPI-AIMR Joint Seminar in FY2013

Title

TARGET SETTING OF MATERIALS RESEARCH IN ENERGY SYSTEMS:
AN EXAMPLE IN MULTI-SCALE SIMULATION OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL ANODE

Speaker

Prof. Michihisa Koyama
(Kyushu University)

Date

October 25 (Fri.), 2013 16:00-17:00

Venue

Seminar Room, 2nd floor, AIMR Main Bldg.

Abstract

Japan is now in the transition of its energy paradigm after 3.11. Present points of discussion are 1) decentralized energy supply options, 2) increase in renewables, 3) efficiency improvement in energy utilization, 4) smart demand-supply management, and 5) resilience against disasters. Fuel cells can play an important role in realizing the sustainable, environmentally benign, and disaster-resilient future society. There are three types of fuel cells in the market: i.e. phosphoric acid fuel cell, polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), commercialized in 1998, 2009, and 2011, respectively. Although the total efficiency of fuel cell cogeneration systems is excellent, the electrical conversion efficiencies of PAFC, PEFC and SOFC are ca. 38, 35, and 42 %HHV, respectively. In August 2013, a centralized combined cycle with 1600 degree C-class gas turbine has started its operation. Even after considering the transmission loss of the grid, a combination of highly efficient centralized power generation and heat pump can be a good option. To realize the practical penetration of SOFC-based system into the market, further improvement in the electrical conversion efficiency as well as the cost-competitiveness is inevitable.
I will introduce an example of setting the target of materials research in energy systems toward the practical contribution to the improvement of systems properties, by taking a concrete example of SOFC-based cogeneration system. I will also introduce the multi-scale simulation approach and recent results toward designing materials and microstructure of SOFC anode, which are pursued through the multi-disciplinary collaborations within the framework of JST-CREST project.

Contact

General Affairs Section, AIMR Administrative Office

TEL : +81-22-217-5922
E-MAIL : wpi-soumu@wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp