Fuel Cell Evaluation and Research Center
Â鶹´«Ã½'s fuel cell evaluation and research center is led by Dr. Bade Shrestha, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering..
Â鶹´«Ã½ us
The research focus of the center includes the following:
- Performance and efficiency evaluation of various PEM and alkaline fuel cells—The effect of various operating parameters such as pressure, temperature, humidity, load, atmospheric impurities and composition are investigated.
- Transient performance and control strategies are also the area of investigation both experimentally and analytically through simulation and modeling.
- Electrochemical phenomena of the electrode materials, catalysts (noble or non-noble metals), process of loading of catalyst and assembly methodology of membrane-electrolyte-assembly.
- Research and development of enhanced bipolar, mono-polar and simulation model development using CFD.
The center is used both in teaching and research for undergraduate and graduate Â鶹´«Ã½s.
Major equipment
- Fuel Cell Test Station
- Hydrogen Generating System
- Test PEM and Alkaline Fuel Cells
- Impedance Meter
- Gas chronography
Fuel cell test station
- Up to 3 KW capacity testing
- Two mass flow meters in each side
- DPH humidifying system
- Cooling system
- Temperature control
- Automated data acquisition system
Ongoing research areas
- Optimization, modeling and simulation of PEM and AFC
- New electrode development using nanotechnology architecture
- Development of micro fuel cell technology
- Alternative Electrolyte Member Research
- FC micro-channel modeling and experiment research