Product Description

As the search for alternative fuels heats up, no topic is hotter than fuel cells. Filling a glaring gap in the literature, Fuel Cell Fundamentals, Second Edition gives advanced undergraduate and beginning level graduate students an important introduction to the basic science and engineering behind fuel cell technology. Emphasizing the foundational scientific principles that apply to any fuel cell type or technology, the text provides straightforward descriptions of how fuel cells work, why they offer the potential for high efficiency, and how their unique advantages can best be used. Designed to be accessible to fuel cell beginners, the text is suitable for any engineering or science major with a background in calculus, basic physics, and elementary thermodynamics. This new edition provides updated and enhanced examples, problems, and pedagogy for classroom use and features a significantly enlarged section on the practical applications of fuel cell technology. A solutions manual will be developed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58786 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 576 pages

From the Back Cover

A new edition of an essential introduction to the science and engineering behind fuel cells

As the search for alternative energy technologies heats up, no topic is hotter than fuel cells. Updating its successful first edition, Fuel Cell Fundamentals, Second Edition gives advanced undergraduate and beginning level graduate students an important introduction to the basic science and engineering behind fuel cell technology. Emphasizing the foundational scientific principles that apply to any fuel cell type or technology, the text provides straightforward descriptions of how fuel cells work, why they offer the potential for high efficiency, and how their unique advantages can best be used.

Designed to be accessible to fuel cell beginners, the text is suitable for any engineering or science major with a background in calculus, basic physics, and elementary thermodynamics. The book is divided in two parts:

Part I: Fuel Cell Principles is devoted to basic fuel cell physics. Illustrated diagrams, examples, text boxes, and homework questions are all designed to impart a unified, intuitive understanding of fuel cells.

Part II: Fuel Cell Technology has been significantly enlarged for this Second Edition. In this section you will find out how to select the right fuel cell for a given application and how to design a complete system. Finally, you will learn how to assess the potential environmental impact of fuel cell technology.

Further enhancing this new edition are updated and improved examples, problems, and pedagogy for classroom use.

About the Author

Ryan O'Hayre received his PhD in materials science and engineering at Stanford University and is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Suk-Won Cha, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Whitney Colella, PhD, is a President Harry S. Truman Research Fellow in National Security Science and

Engineering, Energy, Resources & Systems Analysis Center, Sandia National Laboratories.

Fritz B. Prinz, PhD, is the Rodney H. Adams Professor in the School of Engineering and serves as Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.

Customer Reviews

Provides clear, interesting overview
This book does a fabulous job of providing a clear, interesting overview of fuel cells. Without assuming any previous knowledge, the book introduces the reader to the necessary fuel cell science, including thermodynamics, charge and mass transport, and reaction kinetics. The book also introduces the five types of fuel cells (PEMFC, PAFC, AFC, MCFC, SOFC) and gives the reader a good understanding of the characteristics, advantages and disadvtanges to each one, allowing for easy comparison. As a student, this textbook seemlessly guided me through the fuel cells class and left me with a strong, deeper understanding of fuel cells (and an ability to intelligently discuss them!). I still reference my textbook frequently and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about fuel cells.

Review of "Fuel Cell Fundamentals" by R. O'Hayre et al.
This book is the best one that I could find to introduce the reader to the technology and underlying science of fuel cells. The quality of the presentation is high but yet it is easy to read. The emphasis on the fundamentals is appreciated. The book has discussions of the relevant thermodynamics, transport science, and chemical kinetics in the early chapters with a supporting appendix on quantum-mechanical issues. Then, it addresses modeling and characterization of fuel cells and fuel-cell systems. Environmental impact is also addressed in the last chapter. The book relies on both mathematics and physical arguments to present the concepts and information. A student at the senior level or graduate level in a program of engineering, physics, or chemistry should have no difficulty with this book. Problem exercises are suggested in the book. Consequently, it can be used as either a textbook or reference book.

Best introductory book on fuel cells available
This book is an excellent introduction to fuel cells for the novice as well as a valuable reference for someone with more experience. It does not assume prior knowledge on the one hand, yet provides enough depth to be of interest for people already in the fuel cell field. When I first became interested in fuel cells, I did a survey of all the books available and this one best suited my needs by far. It is very readable and the explanations provide both quantitative scientific rigor as well as supporting, intuitive reasoning. I highly recommend this book - when you finish reading it you will have a solid foundation in fuel cell science and technology.