MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dr. James Fenton

I’m pleased to let you know about an exciting new contract FSEC has received to lead research and development activity for the U.S. Department of Energy’s High Temperature, Low Relative Humidity Membrane Program. The high temperature membrane (<150ºC) is a key component of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). This fuel cell will be the engine of our automobiles of tomorrow.

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FEATURE STORY

New FSEC Study Offers Strategies for Improving Air-Conditioner
Dehumidification Performance

A recent research project by Don Shirey and Richard Raustad of FSEC, assisted by former FSEC staff member Hugh Henderson, provides insight into understanding and quantifying the moisture removal performance of cooling coils at part-load conditions (e.g., when the compressor of a residential air conditioner cycles on and off), which under certain circumstances can dramatically reduce the system’s dehumidification ability and possibly even cause indoor air quality problems.

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TOP STORIES

Florida's Energy Act – Applications for Solar Incentives Are Now Available

The Department of Environmental Protection has announced the availability of applications for rebates and tax credits for purchase and installation of new solar equipment.

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Governor’s Hurricane Conference Features FSEC Programs on Renewables
and Sustainability

Courtesy of NOAA

The words “hurricane season” have taken on new meaning for Floridians during the past two years. The state has been battered on all sides by some of the most destructive storms in history, and many new efforts have begun to prepare citizens for future storms.

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Student Hydrogen Sprint Competition “Takes the Green Flag” With Another Successful Program

This year’s Hydrogen Sprint competition at FSEC brought more than 40 students from around the Southeast with nine hydrogen vehicles to compete in races and activities at the center in May. The students designed and built model-sized hydrogen vehicles that were powered by hydrogen fuel cells which used the energy from sunlight to break apart water into hydrogen and oxygen.

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NSF Funds “Basic Science” Hydrogen Storage Project

National Science Foundation

A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is giving FSEC researcher Darlene Slattery “a great opportunity to work on something that is just plain good science!”

Slattery is referring to the project called “Nanocrystalline Al-Mg Alloys for Hydrogen Storage,” a three-year, $300,000 effort she’s heading up with Dr. Fereshteh Ebrahimi of the University of Florida to look at the use of metal hydrides for hydrogen storage.

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