Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Impedance-Resolved Performance And Durability In Redox Flow Batteries, Alan Michael Pezeshki

Doctoral Dissertations

The realization of redox flow batteries (RFBs) as a grid-scale energy solution depends on improving the performance and lifetime of the technology to decrease the high capital costs. The electrodes are a key component in the RFB; performance enhancement is often achieved through chemical or thermal treatments of commercially available porous carbon materials.

This dissertation uses impedance spectroscopy-based methods to gain insight into performance and durability in RFBs, enabling intelligent cell design. Initial work focused on understanding the impact of improved electrode and membrane properties on system performance. An accelerated stress test was then developed that can be used to …

Fundamental Studies Of Electrochemical Reactions And Microfluidics In Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer Cells, Jingke Mo

Doctoral Dissertations

In electrochemical energy devices, including fuel cells, electrolyzers and batteries, the electrochemical reactions occur only on triple phase boundaries (TPBs). The boundaries provide the conductors for electros and protons, the catalysts for electrochemical reactions and the effective pathways for transport of reactants and products. The interfaces have a critical impact on the overall performance and cost of the devices in which they are incorporated, and therefore could be a key feature to optimize in order to turn a prototype into a commercially viable product. For electrolysis of water, proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells (PEMECs) have several advantages compared to other …

Investigation Of Localized Performance And Gas Evolution In All-Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries Via In-Situ Distributed Diagnostic Techniques, Jason Thomas Clement

Doctoral Dissertations

All-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are an emerging grid-scale energy storage technology; however, enhancements in terms of performance, efficiency, durability, and cost are required before it can become commercially viable. These improvements are achievable through the development of advanced materials, superior architecture, and ultimately a deeper fundamental understanding of the influence of various phenomena and operational parameters on cell performance. There currently are a lack of in-situ experimental diagnostic techniques which can help in achieving this fundamental understanding.

Two separate distributed diagnostic techniques were developed in this work: in-plane current distribution, and neutron radiography. Localized current distribution measurements can identify …

Theoretical Modeling, Experimental Observation, And Reliability Analysis Of Flow-Induced Oscillations In Offshore Wind Turbine Blades, Pariya Pourazarm

Doctoral Dissertations

Offshore wind energy has been growing rapidly due to its capacity for utilizing much larger turbines and thus higher power generation compared to onshore. With the increasing size of offshore wind turbine rotors, the design criteria used for the blades may also evolve. Increased flexibility in blades causes them to be more susceptible to experiencing flow-induced instability. One of the destructive aero-elastic instabilities that can occur in flexible structures subjected to aerodynamic loading is coupled-mode flutter. Coupled-mode flutter instability has not been a design driver in the current wind turbine blades, however, considering the industry tendency in utilizing longer and …

Polymer And Small Molecule Designs For Anion Conducting Membranes: Connected Ion-Channel Morphologies And Highly Alkaline Stable Ammonium Cations, Sedef P. Ertem

Doctoral Dissertations

Fuel cells are one of the oldest sustainable energy generation devices, converting chemical energy into electrical energy via reverse-electrolysis reactions. With the rapid development of polymer science, solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes replaced the conventional liquid ion transport media, rendering low-temperature fuel cells more accessible for applications in portable electronics and transportation. However, SPE fuel cells are still far from commercialization due to high operation cost, and insufficient lifetime and performance limitations. Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are inexpensive alternatives to current proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology, which relies on utilizing expensive noble-metal catalysts and perfluorinated SPE …

Wind Farm Wake Modeling And Analysis Of Wake Impacts In A Wind Farm, Yujia Hao

Doctoral Dissertations

More and more wind turbines have been grouped in the same location during the last decades to take the advantage of profitable wind resources and reduced maintenance cost. However wind turbines located in a wind farm are subject to a wind field that is substantially modified compared to the ambient wind field due to wake effects. The wake results in a reduced power production, increased load variation on the waked turbine, and reduced wake farm efficiency. Therefore the wake has long been an important concern for the wind farm installation, maintenance, and control. Thus a wake simulation tool is required. …

Inter-Droplet Membranes For Mechanical Sensing Applications, Nima Tamaddoni Jahromi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation combines self-assembly phenomena of amphiphilic molecules with soft materials to create and characterize mechanoelectrical transducers and sensors whose sensing elements are thin-film bioinspired membranes comprised of phospholipids or amphiphilic polymers. We show that the structures of these amphiphilic molecules tune the mechanical and electrical properties of these membranes. We show that these properties affect the mechanoelectrical sensing characteristic and range of operation of these membrane transducers. In the experiments, we construct and characterize a membrane-based hair cell embodiment that enables the membrane to be responsive to mechanical perturbations of the hair. The resulting oscillations of membranes formed between …

Design Load Analysis Of Two Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Concepts, Gordon M. Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations

Much of the United States' wind resource is located over deep water where fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines are cost-prohibitive. To capture this energy, floating offshore wind turbines are being developed. However, current design standards do not explicitly cover issues relating to floating offshore wind turbines, which leads to risk and uncertainty in the design process. Two important issues that this dissertation investigates are the effect of simulation length and wind and wave misalignment on fatigue and ultimate loads. Experience in the offshore floating oil and gas industry has recommended simulation lengths of 3-6 hours, but the wind industry typically simulates …