FRS 002L —
Sec. 001 —
(2 units) — CRN 55912 — W 2:10 – 4:00 pm —
2130 Bainer
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles
Instructor: Paul Erickson, Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical
Engineering, College of Engineering
Description: UCDavis is unique in its expertise
regarding hydrogen
vehicles and fuel cell systems. This freshman seminar will review the basics of
fuel cell vehicles including hydrogen production and use of hydrogen
in transportation
applications. The UC Davis Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Laboratories and facilities
will be toured and introduced. These will include the Hydrogen Production and
Utilization Laboratory, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Burning Transit
Buses, UC Davis
Hydrogen Refueling Station, and the Battery and Fuel Cell Laboratory
of the Institute
of Transportation Studies. A tour of the nearby California Fuel cell
Partnership
in Sacramento will also be arranged. Students will become familiar
with the various
types of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies through discussions led
by the instructor
and presentations. It is expected that the Students will become aware
of the promises
and challenges of hydrogen powered transportation technology. Students should
learn the basics regarding conversion technologies and the major
technical challenges
in both energy conversion and in using various primary resources
including renewables.
Format: A trip to the California fuel cell partnership will be
arranged by the instructor. Reading will include articles from
technical journals
and books available through the Physical Science and Engineering
Library. A referenced
research report regarding fuel cell technology and hydrogen prospects for the
future will be required at the end of the quarter. Weekly quizzes
covering previous
discussion will also be administered. Grading: Grading
will be based 50% on the research report and 50% on weekly quizzes.
About the Instructor: Professor Erickson is an
Assistant Professor
of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. He is formally affiliated with the
Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis and teaches courses in both the
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department and in the
Transportation
Technology and Policy Graduate group. He also co-directs the UC Davis student
team involved in the Challenge X Vehicle Competition with the US department of
Energy. Professor Erickson’s research involves the production
and utilization
of hydrogen for fuel cell systems including fuel cell and hydrogen
burning vehicles.
Fundamentally Professor Erickson seeks to further the understanding of hydrogen
production methods and to find approaches that will overcome the limiting steps
in such processes. This includes studying the reformation of fuels
such as methanol,
ethanol, gasoline, diesel, coal and logistic fuels as well as studying hydrogen
production from renewable sources. In applied studies Professor
Erickson has been
instrumental in quantifying the benefits of operational fuel cell vehicles and
has experience in the design, operation, and testing of prototype
fuel cell buses.