Total citations: 205
h-index: 9 

Review of Fuels for Direct Carbon Fuel Cells

Adam Rady, Sarbjit Giddey, Sukhvinder P. S. Badwal, Bradley Ladewig, and Sankar Bhattacharya

Energy & Fuels
Available online 31 January 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ef201694y

In this paper, the current status of direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) technology has been reviewed. Recent promising advances in the design of fuel cells has resulted in a reprisal of research into the DCFC technology. As a result, more is understood about the roles of species and mechanisms that govern the performance of DCFC systems. Of particular interest to industry and researchers are the direct carbon molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) arrangements, with the bulk of research articles and large-scale investment focused on these DCFC types. However, the variety of fuels used and trialled within these fuel cells is limited. This is especially true for the SOFC arrangement, with the overwhelming fuel of choice for researchers being carbon black and light gases for industry. The application of more readily available and cheaper fuels in this type of DCFC is unassessed. This review addresses this gap in the literature by reviewing all fuels tested in direct carbon MCFC and SOFC systems, in particular critically evaluating low-rank coals and biomass, among other alternative fuels.

Cost effective cation exchange membranes: A review

Rebecca Yee, R. A. Rozendal, Kaisong Zhang, Bradley Ladewig

Chemical Engineering Research & Design
Available online 3 November 2011

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.10.015

This paper will look at developments of new polymer electrolyte membranes to replace high cost ion exchange membranes such as Nafion®, Flemion® and Aciplex®. These perfluorinated polymer electrolytes are currently the most commercially utilized electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, with high chemical stability, proton conductivity and strong mechanical properties. While perfluorinated polymer electrolytes have satisfactory properties for fuel cell applications, they limit commercial use due to significant high costs as well as reduced performance at high temperatures and low humidity. A promising alternative to obtain high performance proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes is through the use of hydrocarbon polymers. The need for inexpensive and efficient materials with high thermal and chemical stability, high ionic conductivity, miscibility with other polymers, and good mechanical strength is reviewed in this paper. Though it is difficult to evaluate the true cost of a product based on preliminary research, this paper will examine several of the more promising materials available as low cost alternatives to ion exchange membranes. These alternative membranes represent a new generation of cost effective electrolytes that can be used in various ion exchange systems. This review will cover recent and significant patents regarding low cost polymer electrolytes suitable for ion exchange membrane applications. Promising candidates for commercial applications will be discussed and the future prospects of cost effective membranes will be presented.

Desalination Concentrate Management

Bradley Ladewig and Ben Asquith

Springer, ISBN: 978-3-642-24851-1

Link to publisher

This book examines five methods used for concentrate management, namely; disposal to surface water, disposal to sewerage, deep well injection, land applications and evaporation ponds. In particular, the book focuses on the design, siting, cost, and environmental impacts of these methods. While these methods are widely practiced in a variety of settings already, there are many limitations that restrict the use of certain disposal options in particular locations.

Nafion Nanocomposite Membranes for the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Bradley Ladewig, Darren Martin, Joe C. Diniz da Costa, Gao Qing Lu

Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Vol 16, Pages 503-515