Transport phenomena in environmentally friendly energy conversion systems

化石燃料的燃烧提供了世界能源需求的大部分。液体燃料雾化和喷雾广泛用于燃烧阶段之前的燃料制备。雾化质量和喷雾特性对燃烧效率和污染物排放有重要影响。然而，化石燃料的广泛使用导致环境退化和健康危害。另一方面，燃料电池高效、清洁，与替代燃料和可再生能源以及可持续发展载体兼容。以氢气为燃料的质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）是最有前途的便携式、移动的和现场热电联产应用，而直接甲醇燃料电池（DMFC）是以甲醇为燃料的PEMFC。本研究的重点是（一）液体燃料的雾化过程和喷雾特性，因为它们涉及到柴油发动机使用生物燃料，如生物柴油，和（ii）的传输现象，以及它们对性能的影响，PEMFC和DMFC。提出的研究的目的是开发一个预测喷雾模型，可用于实际喷雾燃烧系统的性能预测和成本效益的设计，并提高性能和降低成本的PEMFC和DMFC。研究结果将有助于建立真实的喷雾模型，并有助于评价喷雾燃烧系统的性能，从而开发出提高燃烧效率、降低污染物排放和缩短开发喷雾燃烧系统所需时间的方法;以及（ii）预期可用于燃料电池性能改进和成本降低，因此有助于燃料电池用于清洁发电的商业化。

Combustion of fossil fuels provides the majority of the world energy needs. Liquid fuel atomization and spray is extensively used for fuel preparation before the combustion stage. Atomization quality and spray characteristics have significant impact on combustion efficiency and pollutant emission. However, the widespread use of fossil fuels results in environmental degradation and health hazards. Fuel cells, on the other hand, are efficient, clean and compatible with alternative fuels and renewable energy sources and carriers for sustainable development. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) using hydrogen as fuel are most promising for portable, mobile and on-site co-generation applications, while direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are PEMFCs with methanol as fuel. This proposed study focuses on (i) the liquid fuel atomization processes and spray characteristics as they relate to diesel engines using biofuels such as biodiesel, and (ii) transport phenomena in, and their impact on the performance of, PEMFCs and DMFCs. The objective of the proposed research is to develop a predictive spray model that can be used for performance prediction and cost-effective design of practical spray combustion systems; and to improve the performance and reduce the cost of PEMFCs and DMFCs. The results of the proposed study are (i) expected to be useful in formulating realistic spray models, and will be helpful in evaluating performance of spray combustion systems, thereby developing methods to improve combustion efficiency, to lower pollutant emissions, and to reduce the time required for the development of such spray combustion systems; and (ii) expected to be useful in fuel cell performance improvement and cost reduction, hence contributing to the commercialization of fuel cells for clean power generation.