Duration
15h Th, 15h Labo.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course deals with the functioning and engineering electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices like batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors. The systems studied are commercial ones as well as systems under development at the laboratory scale.
The course contains five distinct chapters :
1- Introduction : brief restatement of the context, history and development perspectives of FCs, batteries and supercapacitors ;
2- General electrochemistry - systems under reversible functioning : (re)statement of fundamental concepts of electrochemistry (redox reactions, electrochemical cells, standard and non-standard electromotive force) and thermodynamics (thermodynamics applied to reversible electrochemical systems) ;
3- Description of electrochemical cells : working principles of primary and secondary electrochemical cells, fuel cells, capacitors and supercapacitors, and comparison of the application domains of these systems ;
4- Cells under real operating conditions: yields, voltage-current relationship, overpotentials, specific ase of PEM fuel cells, methods for the characterization of isolated elements and systems under operating conditions ;
5- Fuel management : hydrogen (production, storage, supply), natural gas, others ; safety of hydrogen handling : hydrogen properties, risks, standards and regulations.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
After this course, the student will be able to :
1- detail the functioning principles of electrochemical systems, in particular fuel cells but also batteries and supercapacitors ;
2- identify and explain the yield loss sources (limitations) existing in electrochemical systems under real operation conditions ;
3- identify the advantages/difficulties of each studied electrochemical system (FCs, batteries, (super)capacitors), the associated costs and possibilities of improvement ;
4- identify the risks linked to synthesis, storage and use of fuels used in electrochemical devices;
5- realize the complete electrochemical characterization of a PEM fuel cell, a supercapacitor or a Li-ion battery on test bench.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.4, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in chemical and material science engineering.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.4, IV.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in electrical engineering.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.4, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in electromechanical engineering.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.2, III.4, IV.2, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4 of the MSc in engineering physics.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The course relies on basic concepts in physics, chemistry and thermodynamics.
Chemistry (CHIM9272-2 and CHIM9273-1)
Rudiments of thermodynamics (CHIM0286-1)
Physics (PHYS2020 and PHYS2021)
or equivalent
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is based (i) on lectures (15 h) and (ii) on laboratory practical (15 h).
Laboratory practical work deals with the electrochemical characterization of PEM fuel cells, supercapacitors or Li-ion batteries. Measurements performed on test benches are used to calculate various operating parameters of the systems.
These various sources of information are complementary and only their combination makes the course fully consistent.
Since the course is usually chosen by small number of students, interaction with the teacher during lessons and practical activities remain the privileged way of exchanging information and solving specific problems.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face lectures (6 x 2h30). Compulsory presence at the laboratory sessions (3 half-days). Lectures in English.
Recommended or required readings
Slides used during the lectures are accessible to students via e-campus. Since the lecture is a "seminar-type", these slides are not necessarily self-sufficient and it is required from the students to complete them by personal notes taken during the lecture. A selected bibliography is mentioned at the end of the lecture notes, but the students are encouraged to make their own bibliographic research.
Assessment methods and criteria
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Additional information:
- An oral exam takes place in January and September. Based on open questions, the evaluation focuses on the deep understanding of fundamental concepts learned during the course and on the solving of problems similar to those encountered during practical work (calculation of operating parameters of electrochemical systems from experimentally measured data).
- Regarding the laboratory report, a deadline is decided in agreement with the students' schedule. Any postponement of the report handing would lead to penalties (-2 points on the final mark per additional day, week-end days included).
- The final evaluation is based on the oral exam (70%), on the laboratory report and on the active participation to laboratory practice (30%). If the mark related to laboratory work is equal to or higher than 10/20, the student may decide to keep it for the September examination. In case of failure in September, no partial exemption is granted from one academic year to the next.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Lectures take place during the autumn session (6 sessions on Tuesday PM from 15/09)
Laboratories are organized during the autumn session (3 half-days, schedule to be confirmed)
Contacts
Prof. Nathalie Job
Department of Chemical Engineering, B6a
Tel: 04/366.35.37 - Nathalie.Job@uliege.be