Customer Reviews

Fuel Cell Systems Explained (Second Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is an actual text book that can be used for self learning. It is a year 2000 publication so it has up-to-date information on all types of fuel cells including an in depth chapter on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells that most other books lack.

The authors develop concepts and formulas in such a way that you don't have to have a PhD in electrochemistry to understand the subject. It also gives specific examples of the concepts and formulas to show how to use them.

This book doesn't just cover the fuel cells themselves but goes into fuel reforming, pumps, electric motors and DC/AC inverters. It has many useful diagrams, tables and photos of fuel cells and their applications. I highly recommend this book to anyone who deals with any aspect of fuel cells.

Fuel cells including their ranging balance of plant, are quite difficult to write about in usefully technical fashion, because the authors must have expertise across so many various disciplines: i.e. chemistry, engineering, materials, thermodynamics, systems theory, etc.

Yet Larminie and Dicks are clearly up to the task, and we are the more fortunate for it. They've done the trick of not only writing a technically-inclined and broadly encompassing work for a fast-growing field (one that's much in need of such books now)--but they've also done it in a way that's surprisingly quite readable.

This book could serve as an excellent self-instruction text for those new to fuel cells, or as a very helpful text for experts in particular fuel cell types who wish to brush up on other systems. And it could be used in any university level class. Should I be pursuaded to lend my copy briefly to someone I know well, then I shall also take care to ensure that I get it back promptly!

It is quite reasonably up to date and highlights for instance Basic Principles; Efficiencies and Voltages; PEMFCs, AFCs, PAFCs; MCFCs; SOFCs; various possible fuel types; compressors, turbines, fans, blowers (etc); delivering FC power, among other topics.

Remarkably, this book even happened to cover a very wide swath of topics that are of a personal interest--despite their diversity. I might suggest more discussion on just a few quite developing topics like sodium borohydride as an H2 storage/generation medium. Yet I note too that near-term emerging topics like that (and much farther off, potential blue sky topics like carbon nanotubes) are likely best left for a future edition of this excellent book.

In sum, I highly recommend this book. It's usefully technical yet readable, essential for fuel cell enthusiasts. Though rather dear, it is I believe well worth the price...

This book is a must read for anyone wanting to get into the fuel cell industry. I am a graduate researcher at a fuel cell lab and after borrowing my copy several colleagues have purchased their own. It gives a complete survey of the major fuel cell technologies and additionally covers many of related issue effecting fuel cell commercialization such as fuel storage. This text is very suited for a undergraduate course in fuel cells.

Fuel cells is a very difficult topic to write about because of the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. I am using the book to learn about Fuel Cells myself and my feelings are mixed. While this book is an excellent starting point, there are some over simplifications and errors. As a Mechanical engineer, some descriptions in the text made me cringe. Watch out for errors in some equations.

Excellent resource for someone with a technical background and general interest in fuel cells. For more serious users, recommend using in conjunction with maybe the DOE fuel cell handbook available from NETL or from OSTI.GOV

This book is extremely well written. I am a grad student and wanted to learn about Fuel Cells and chose this book. It gives you everything you need to know - starting with an assumption that you dont know anything! i.e. starts from basics and brings you up to speed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fuel Cells. The level of minimum education required to comprehend this book is around sophomore-junior. Enjoy learning fuel cells!

When I read this book, I read it to find out and explore this new idea of fuel cells. I was amazed by how it told me all of its benfits and how much more efficient the fuel cell powered cars truly are, and how much more environmentally friendly they are. This book explained the enitre concept of fuel cells to me, without confusing me. It explained every new term and if there is anyone who is interested in fuel cells, tis is definitely the book to read!

This book is extremely well written. I am a grad student and wanted to learn about Fuel Cells and chose this book. It gives you everything you need to know starting with an assumption that you dont know anything! i.e. starts from basics and brings you up to speed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fuel Cells. The level of minimum education required to comprehend this book is around sophomore-junior. Enjoy learning fuel cells!

I'm a first year science student and found this novel very helpful for a science report on the hydrogen fuel cell. High recommend!