Alexander Michaelis
Fraunhofer Institute of Ceramic Technologies and Systems, IKTS, Dresden, Germany
Title: Smart Advanced Ceramic Materials for energy and environmental technology
Biography
Biography: Alexander Michaelis
Abstract
Advanced ceramic materials offer enormous potential for innovations in the fields of efficient energy conversion and storage, propulsion systems, smart structures, sensor technology as well as environmental technology. The joint application of structural and functional ceramic technology allows for unique combination of electronic, ionic (electrochemical) and mechanical properties enabling the development of new, highly integrated systems in the above mentioned fields. However, due to the specific brittle failure mechanism of ceramic materials (Griffith behavior) the production of ceramic components requires new approaches for non destructive in-line testing. This is illustrated with specific examples for smart systems development for Fuel Cell, batteries and ceramic membranes. As a first example, high temperature fuel cell systems development for both mobile and stationary applications are presented. In the power range from 1 W to several 10 kW we use SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) technology, for the high power range up to several MW we prefer MCFC (molten carbonate fuel cell) technology. Both fuel cell types use conventional hydrocarbon fuels and are currently being commercialized. These fuel cells allow for ultra high efficient power generation. In the combined heat and power (CHP) mode, efficiencies above 95% can be reached. Since the load following capability of fuel cells is limited, we also develop new ceramic based storage systems. These storage systems also can be used along with renewable power generation technologies (PV, wind) to solve the problem of base load feed in. Examples for development of Li-Ion batteries as well as high temperature NaNiCl batteries are presented. As an example for the potential of ceramic materials in the field of environmental technology, ceramic membranes are discussed. Such membranes can be used for micro-, ultra- or nano- filtration of liquids and gases. For this, a control and reduction of pore sizes below the 1 nm range is required.
Speaker Presentations
Speaker PPTs Click Here