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Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the Second International Conference on Fuel Cell Science,
Engineering and Technology. As many of you know, fuel cell technology
is an emerging technology for electric power generation for stationary,
mobile and portable applications, having a far reaching impact on
our society Some of the advantages of fuel cell systems are: high
efficiency, unparalleled low emissions, quiet operation, no large
volume wastes produced from fuel cell operation, and a long-term
solution for foreign oil dependence. The major challenges are to
reduce the high cost of power generation and large packaging requirement
for vehicles, and to improve performance, availability of suitable
fuels, reliability and durability of the fuel cell stack and power
plant. Since this technology has a great promise, it will have a
major impact on the US and global economies. Hence, governments
of all developed countries currently invest a significant amount
of money for R&D, and many universities and technical institutes
have developed special R&D programs and research centers related
to some aspects of fuel cell technology.
The fuel cell technology includes the following important major
areas for R&D: fuels and fuel processing to generate hydrogen or
hydrogen rich fuel, generation of electricity in a fuel cell and
fuel cell stack, air management system for oxygen supply, thermal/water
management, recovery or rejection of heat of exhaust products, and
modulating the electric power delivery.
This conference is intended to bring together researchers, experimentalists,
analysts, designers, consultants, practitioners, and technology
managers and leaders to exchange information, experiences and insights
in many research areas, to provide a forum for discussion on advances,
to identify barriers to accelerate the technology development, and
to further stimulate their research activities in this emerging
field of fuel cell systems and components for stationary, mobile
and portable power generation applications.
This conference will provide an opportunity for researchers, developers
and consultants to disseminate their creative work to the participants
of the conference. We invite you to participate in this exciting
event, as an author presenting a paper on any aspects related to
the fuel cell technology, or as a participant in helping us understand
needs in your specific application.
Here is an opportunity for you to learn from the experts about
the latest advances in design, analysis, optimization, experimentation,
manufacturing and development issues of the fuel cell systems and
components in macro, micro and novel fuel cells. Covered will be
all major issues related to fuel cell and stack design, and balance
of power plants that includes fuels and fuel reformers, air management,
power delivery and cogeneration. The state-of-the-art of the technology
will be covered by the leading authorities from industry, government
and academia.
Some of the benefits of attending this conference are:
- Be exposed to the current state-of-the-art fuel cell components
and systems, including their types, functions and applications.
- Understand the advances in fundamentals of electrochemistry
and thermodynamics of fuel cell operation.
- Be familiar with the leading research in electrodes, membranes,
catalysts, bipolar plates and stack constructions and operation.
- Get in-depth understanding of advances in Proton Exchange Membrane,
Direct Methanol, Alkaline, Phosphoric Acid, Molten Carbonate and
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells as well as Micro and novel fuel cells.
- Learn about developments in various fuels used and fuel processing
issues for supplying hydrogen or hydrogen rich fuel to fuel cells.
- Find out the progress in fuel processor design, operation, and
integration issues with fuel cells.
- Understand the state-of-the-art of hydrogen storage, infrastructure
and safety issues for supply, transportation and use of hydrogen.
- Become familiar with improvements in design and operation of
balance of fuel cell power plant.
- Gain knowledge of advances in fuel cell system integration and
power delivery issues.
- Learn about the future trends and technology developments of
fuel cell systems.
We look forward to your enthusiastic participation.
R.K. Shah and S.G. Kandlikar
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York .
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