"Smart switching" - fuel cell , energy storage and solar .
Logic, analytical skills with conceptual thinking on each technology and objective, all prioritised "Inside the circle".
One of the "next steps" in an educational sense is the model power supply system involving fuel cells, solar electric panels, and energy storage devices( batteries, super-capacitors), "smart switched". Analyse the above pictures carefully for analytical and logical skills are required to move switches so that certain functions are performed. The switches above do not cover all possibilities, so other combinations can be created for the desired effect/s.
Each piece of technology represented assures concentration is applied, whilst using analytical and logical skills in order or prioritised. Having the board in front of students by group ,allows for continued concentration using the above mentioned skill blocks "within the circle". Apart from the educational worth of each piece of technology and its desired outcome, and most importantly the desired collective outcome/s, the way of thinking by students in achieving these collective outcome/s is most important in my view.
The mechanical switches will be replaced by a controller in larger scaled models. Computer software programs will interpret input variables from the electrical power demand side of the real life models, and issue commands via the program to supply power accordingly to meet the electrical demand imperative. The controller to the computer program/s will thus become most valuable over time, for they will be responsible for real systems within two(2) years.
A current decentralised power supply system(DPSS) is currently being built at Glenfield NSW by GridX P/L. GridX P/L is in fact doing a showcase(20 homes) with Mirvac Homes,and a further 800 homes in the near future within the Campbelltown Shire of the Macarthur Region of NSW. GridX P/L depict that when the DHPSS of the near future are completed, they can easily be "Plug n Play" inserted.
Model fuel cell and fuel cell/battery hybrid car building[12-20watt]:
Enabling this program is the current PEM fuel cells being produced in China. FCIA is currently involved in metal hydride cylinder manufacture and registration through WorkCover of NSW. As well a gas regulator system is being developed so metal hydride storage of hydrogen plus regulator will become significantly cheaper before Xmas 2006.When this system has been developed, hydrogen via metal hydride storage will satisfy not just the 12watt PEM fuel cell I recently built into the radio controlled 12watt car for <US$600, but also 100watt, 200watt and 300watt PEM fuel cells. What this means as well that fuel cell and fuel cell/battery hybrid car education programs are enabled, along with more powerful individual projects. By example the cluster of high schools can have their metal hydride cylinders re-filled by the FCIA, so the schools will have much more powerful fuel cells during year 2007.Fuel cell and fuel cell/battery hybrid car building programs will be strongly suggested. This will as well heavily involve electronics, chemistry, physics, mechanics and systems integration.
Australian schools interested in following this pathway in course and program development,please contact the FCIA FCIA@Hydrogen.id.au 20.8.06
LINKS:
Fuel Cell Works Fuel Cells 2000,UTC Fuel Cells NFCRC: Home PageCalifornia Fuel Cell Partnership , Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Investor FuelCell Energy: Home The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, Fuel Cell Today - Opening doors to fuel cells commercialisation , EERE: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program , Ballard Power Systems - Home , Cell Store.com offers fuel cells and related products , Nuvera Fuel Cells :: Home , Collecting the History of Fuel Cells: A Smithsonian Research ... , EyeforFuelCells - The Business of Fuel Cells , Fuel Cells Canada , Plug Power , 4Hydrogen.com