Man-portable power generation devices : product design and supporting algorithms

A methodology for the optimal design and operation of microfabricated fuel cell systems is proposed and algorithms for relevant optimization problems are developed. The methodology relies on modeling, simulation and optimization at three levels of modeling detail. The first class of optimization problems considered are parametric mixed-integer linear programs and the second class are bilevel programs with nonconvex inner and outer programs; no algorithms exist currently in the open literature for the global solution of either problem in the form considered here. Microfabricated fuel cell systems are a promising alternative to batteries for manportable power generation. These devices are potential consumer products that comprise a more or less complex chemical process, and can therefore be considered chemical products. With current computational possibilities and available algorithms it is impossible to solve for the optimal design and operation in one step since the devices considered involve complex geometries, multiple scales, time-dependence and parametric uncertainty. Therefore, a methodology is presented based on decomposition into three levels of modeling detail, namely system-level models for process synthesis,

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Mitsos, Alexander

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Paul I. Barton.

• Chemical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36915

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36915