For this
assignment you will do some research on a possible new form of “clean
energy”, based on solid oxide fuel cells. The “Bloom Box” was
invented by UIUC alum KR Sridhar (MS, Nuclear Engineering; PhD, Mechanical
Engineering), and is currently being tested by Google, Walmart
and Coke. You have two options to
learn about this (feel free to do both
if you want!).
Option
1: Read at least 7 of the
following:
http://www.dailytech.com/Is+the+Magic+Alternative+Energy+Bloom+Box+for+Real/article17752.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6221135.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_Energy_Server
http://www.bloomenergy.com/products/solid-oxide-fuel-cell-animation/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_oxide_fuel_cell
http://electrochem.cwru.edu/encycl/art-f02-sofc.htm
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/fuelcells/fuelcells_solidoxide.html
http://mypages.iit.edu/~smart/garrear/fuelcells.htm
http://www.bloomenergy.com/products/solid-oxide-fuel-cell/
http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/bloom-box-fuel-cell-energy/756
Option
2: Watch the recorded presentation
that Dr. Sridhar made at UIUC on April 15, 2011 (it was supposed to be posted
on the College of Engineering website – however, you can also watch it
here: http://www.youtube.com/EngineeringIllinois.
Then:
Write a 2-page essay on the Bloom Box, its potential and its disadvantages, how
the solid oxide fuel cells work, why they haven’t seen widespread
adoption to date, and what future developments might affect this.