Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Zilouchian, Ali

Abstract

In thesis work, an innovative design and implementation of a "trybrid" system is carried out. This new "trybrid" system is the continuation of the solar electric vehicle which was designed and developed as an undergraduate independent study under the supervision of Dr. Roger Messenger. The work done on this thesis consists in the implementation of the existing solar electric vehicle outfitted with a fuel cell system. For this, two fuel cell systems were analyzed as possible candidates for the retrofit. Also, different hydrogen storage methods are analyzed in terms of efficiency and safety. This thesis also covers the control system utilized to manage the energy from the two different energy sources. Special attention is devoted to the method of determining the state of charge of the batteries which controls fuel cell turn on time. This first prototype shows the different functionalities and optimized features that maximize the solar energy production, and determines exactly when to turn on the fuel cell for minimum hydrogen usage.

Extent

140 p.

Comments

College of Engineering and Computer Science|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|College of Engineering and Computer Science

Identifier

FA00012546

Format

pdf

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