Speaker: 

Prabhakar Singh, PhD
Fuel Cell Development
Director Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland WA 99352
Phone (509) 375 5945
Fax     (509) 375 2186
Email Prabhakar.singh@pnl.gov 

Dr. Prabhakar Singh joined Pacific Northwest National laboratory in April 2000 to manage and direct the advanced solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) development activities of the NETL-PNNL led USDOE SECA Core Technology Program. Dr. Singh brings more than 25 years of hands on experience in advanced energy conversion and SOFC research and development at PNNL and his responsibilities include development of SOFC technology and system integration capabilities as well as development and deployment of SOFC based products for both stationary and mobile applications.  Dr. Singh’s responsibility also includes interfacing with government and industrial clients working in the fuel cell product development area. 

Prior to joining PNNL, Dr. Singh held several key technical and management positions at Ford Motor Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Fuel cell Energy where he was responsible for the technology development, systems integration and product testing.  While at Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation (an enterprise of Ford Motor Company), he managed the PEM fuel cell R&D including fuel cell system and advanced “on board” fuel processing technologies development for land based and automotive prime propulsion applications, his technical activities were focused on solid oxide fuel cell development at Westinghouse electric corporation. As technical group leader and lead, fellow scientist and member of technical staff, Dr. Singh worked on various aspects of SOFC power generation system development including advanced materials development for cells and stacks, cell fabrication and testing, stack fabrication and large scale manufacturing process development, fuel processing and failure analysis. His contributions in the area of 100kWe SOFC generator development, utilization of pipe line natural gas, electrical performance enhancement, fabrication process scale up and cost reduction have been considered unique and innovative by his peers. At Fuel Cell Energy, Dr. Singh led the development work on corrosion tolerant materials, creep tolerant electrodes and scale up. His contributions have led to the development of advanced bi-polar materials and ODS anode - currently being used in the commercial stack.  

Dr. Singh holds more than 50 US patents and trade secrets in advanced materials, fuel cell system operation, process optimization, hydrocarbon fuel processing, hydrogen separation and electrical management of fuel cell systems. He has also written more than 100 patent disclosures related to areas of advanced metallic and ceramic materials, device design, low cost fabrication and reliability enhancement. Dr. Singh has authored or coauthored more than 100 technical reports and papers along with 3 book chapters.

Dr. Prabhakar Singh holds a PhD and MS (Distinction) degree in metallurgy from University of Sheffield and Indian Institute of Science respectively. Dr. Singh also holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. For his outstanding contributions to technology, product development mentoring, and education, several technical societies have honored him by selecting him a Fellow of the Society. He is a Fellow of ASM International (Class of 1998), American Ceramic Society (Class of 2003) and National Association of Corrosion Engineers (Class of 2008) and serves as Chairman on several technical committees.  Dr. Singh has received outstanding performance award (2005), outstanding innovator award (1990), and Award of Excellence (1988). Dr. Singh serves on the Editorial board of ASME and ACerSoc.

 Abstract

Intermediate to high temperature (600-1000C) operation and novel electrode processes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) enable efficient utilization of hydrocarbons and coal derived fuels. SOFC’s also show tolerance to higher levels of fuel impurities (compared to low temperature fuel cells), utilizes a much simpler balance of plant and offer the potential to develop “near zero emissions” power systems architecture. This presentation will review recent advances in SOFC technology including materials of construction, electrode processes, and long term degradation. Cell and stack designs will be reviewed with emphasis on structural analysis and thermal management. Systems requirements for stationary, mobile and portable applications will be presented. Key challenges will be examined and discussed. Research trend will be presented.