EU, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS Nr
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Title & Ref. Code
Research study on the adsorption of Hydrogen from Nano - materials for use on Fuel Cells (03ΕΔ – 548)
Participants
- Tropical S.A. University of Crete - University of Ioannina - University of Kentucky (USA) Foundation of Research & Technology Hellas (ITE/FORTH) -
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Duration
36 months 2008
Role in Project Design & development of a nano-based hydride hydrogen storage tank absorbing hydrogen with 99.99% purity for fuel cell applications.
Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Network (IPS -2001-42032) http://www.renewtransnet.com
- Tropical S.A. - International Innovation Service Ltd (UK) - CRES - META Consulting (Italy) - University of Vaasa (Finland)
36 months 2006
2 Role in Project Evaluated the possibility to produce a commercially small city car (GreenCity Car) using three different power systems (Power packs): Fuel Cells (LT - PEMFC), Hybrid (battery range extender) and pure electric (batteries). Finally, the development of a 2 seated "hybrid" hydrogen fuel cell city car using a low temperature hydrogen PEM Fuel Cell acting as a battery range extender followed by extensive dissemination activities mainly within European Union took place.
Complete Fuel Cell System for power generation using Methanol as fuel (ΣΠ-Ε 25)
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- Tropical S.A. - Foundation of Research & Technology Hellas (FORTH) - Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) - Frigoglass S.A. - Germanos S.A. - Sunlight S.A.
36 months 2007
Role in Project Design and development of a 500W PEM Fuel Cell Stack capable of operating with gaseous hydrogen which has been produced from Methanol reforming. During the project two different stacks designed and developed - a low temperature (70 - 90oC) as well as a high temperature (150 - 180oC) PEM Fuel Cell Stack - including Membrane Electrode Assembly's (MEA's), Flexible Graphite Bipolar Plates, NaFion based materials concluded on testing and evaluating both options.
Development of a renewable energy polygeneration system to produce electricity, potable water and hydrogen (05-ΔΣΒΕΠΡΟ-50)
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- Tropical S.A. - Agricultural University of Athens - CNRS(France) - Poulek Solar (Czech Rep.)
18 months 2008
Role in Project Design and realization of a hybrid renewable energy polygeneration system. The energy of the sun and the wind is harvested by photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine. The products of this system are electrical energy, hydrogen as transportation fuel and potable water through desalination. Hydrogen was also used as energy storage. The specific components of the system include photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, battery bank, PEM fuel cell, PEM electrolyzer, metal hydride tanks, hydrogen vehicle refueling subsystem, reverse osmosis desalination unit using energy recovery and a control system. The system has to cover the electricity and water needs of a house, as well as to produce enough gaseous fuel to power a small 5 kW Pure hydrogen car (FCEV).
Catalysis: A vital tool for the environments improvement as well as for energy production (06 ΑΔΒ 59)
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- Tropical S.A. - University of Ioannina - University of Patras - University of Western Macedonia - Technical University of Crete - National Technical University of Athens - Foundation of Research & Technology Hellas (FORTH) - Centre for Research & Technology Hellas - Advent S.A. - ANKO S.A. - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
18 months 2009
Role in Project Seminars conducted by MSc George Kaplanis on Tropical’s laboratories concerning design, testing, simulation and manufacturing methods on PEM fuel cell systems as well as in detail presentation on the Balance of Plant (BoP) of fuel cell systems, powering up to 10kW.
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Combined pyrolisis fermentation of Biomass and High Temperature Fuel Cells for the simultaneous production of Biofuels and “Green” energy (234-Ε)
- Tropical S.A. - Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) - University of Western Macedonia - Proplan Ltd
24 months 2008
Role in Project Design and development of a pyrolisis system which is able to produce gaseous hydrogen from biomass as well as other biofuels. The gaseous hydrogen was supplied on a High Temperature Fuel Cell Stack focusing main on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack (SOFC) technology.
Development and Application of Novel Bi-metallic Anodic Electrodes for Direct Hydrocarbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) (05ΝΟΝ-EU-242)
- Tropical S.A. - Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) - Technical University of Crete - University of South Carolina
24 months 2009
7 Role in Project In this project, the optimal use of hydrocarbon fuels (from natural gas up to gasoline) in high temperature, solid oxide fuel cells without the need of an external reformer were addressed. Development, testing and simulation procedures of special method on manufacturing bipolar plates, fundamentally novel types of fuel-cell bi-metallic anodes based on Nifor, designed for Solide Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks (SOFC)
Understanding Microscale Mechanisms in the Cathode Gas Diffusion Layer of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) (05ΝΟΝ-EU-512)
- Tropical S.A. - Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) - University of Western Macedonia - University of Notre Dame
24 months 2009
Role in Project
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Development and Testing of a Proton Exchange Membrane. The main objectives on this project were: - To study state of the art membrane electrode assemblies (i.e. catalyst and gas diffusion layers), which will be used as components in an operational PEM fuel cell. - To numerically reconstruct the microstructure of the gas diffusion electrode using a methodology that allows to predict the main transport properties (i.e. conductivity, permeability, etc.) with a relative error of 15% or less. - To calculate, through 3D computational fluid dynamics simulation, the flow field, temperature field and water vapour transport through the porous electrode, including the effects of the thermal conductivity of the electrode material. - To determine the factors, operational or structural, most influential to correct operation by varying them at least ±30% from nominal operating conditions. - To support the numerical effort through experimental measurements of the performance characteristics of a model PEM fuel cell, operating with the same electrode materials used in the simulations and under the same operating conditions. - To translate the results into specific requirements regarding operating conditions and porous material microstructure. - To support the results of the studies and to render them into marketable information with regard to specific PEM fuel cell applications.
Fluorine substituted High Capacity Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage at Low Working Temperatures (FLYHY) http://www.flyhy.eu
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- Tropical S.A. - HZG (Germany) - IFE (Norway) - Aarhus University (Denmark) - University of Torino (Italy) - INIFTA (Argentina)
36 months 2011
Role in Project The main objectives on this project were: - To exploit findings on materials destabilisation and stabilisation resp. by halogen substitution for alane, borohydrides and Reactive Hydride Composites, in order to achieve a breakthrough in the thermodynamic properties of these materials exhibiting the highest hydrogen capacities known at present - To obtain an in depth scientific understanding of the sorption properties of the substituted materials by extended structural and thermo dynamical characterisation and modelling, for materials optimisation - To determine tank relevant materials properties like e.g. densification behaviour and heat conductivity, and - To do first tests in a prototype tank.
European - Hellenic network for the European Research Infrastructure “HiPER” www.hiper-laser.org
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- Tropical S.A. - PPC S.A - Technical University of Crete - University of Crete - Univeristy of Ioannina - University of Athens - FORTH/ICE-HT - Academy of Athens - Democretus University of Thrace - N.C.S.R. Demokritos - Open University - NHRF - National Technical University of Athens
12 months 2011
- University of Patras
Role in Project Setting up a network on multiple sectors around Greece, providing as well as gathering information for the HiPER infrastructure.
Robot Fleets for Highly Effective Crop in Mediterranean Agriculture (RHEA) http://www.rhea-project.eu
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- Tropical S.A. - CSIC - CogVis GmbH - Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien Ltd. - Cyberbotics Ltd - Università di Pisa - Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Soluciones Agrícolas de Precisión S.L. - UPM - AirRobot - University of Florence - Research Group Cemagref - Case New Holland - Bluebotics - Gennaro Penillo
48 months 2014
Role in Project Development of 3 hybrid hydrogen fuel cell systems for a robot fleet for effective crop management. The hybrid power pack that was designed, manufactured and installed on each of the three robotic tractors was constituted from the following equipment: - PEM Fuel Cell System - Photovoltaic (Solar PV) - Hydrogen Storage on Metal Hydride Tanks - Batteries - Tractor Alternator - Smart Hybrid Microprocessor
Useful Links https://webmail.csic.es/bigfiles/descarga.php?l=12355105b&t=1366723972&f=DSCF9495.AVI http://www.tropical.gr/press/126-tropical-s-robot-tractor-for-agriculture,-new-holland-factory-belgium.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQEdRZGpgJg&list=PL2BCB059540C13F1B http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBNXAFJ0Ayw http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=K4pkXBrz7Q8&feature=endscreen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH16eGxCmbM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFNgehO2Iq8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dythzfnBkyU
Development and Experimental Testing of an innovative fully hybrid electrical minibus with zero emission (YBOMER) http://yvomer.ntua.gr
- Tropical S.A. - National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) - Miltech Hellas S.A. - Opus S.A. - E.L.V.O S.A.
36 months 2014
Role in Project Design, development, simulation and real field testing of a 400V/100Ah LiFePO4 battery pack including suitable standard charger 20A as well as appropriate Battery Management System (BMS) on a converted minibus (Ford Transit).
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