HyPoStruct · A key breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cells: enhancing macroscopic mass transport properties by tailoring the porous microstructure
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-01-09 → 2021-01-08
- EU contribution
- €173,857
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
A key breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cells: enhancing macroscopic mass transport properties by tailoring the porous microstructure
The present project investigates the transport properties of two phase flows in fuel cells porous materials with an innovative bottom-up approach: understanding from pore-scale microscopic simulations the main mechanisms of water transport and extracting the effective transport properties, in order to achieve optimised electrodes designs. The project aims at improving the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells, by optimising the electrode performance, from a fluid-dynamic and water management perspective. The goal is to understand the mechanisms of water transport within fuel cells electrodes, in order to identify innovative optimal design that would allow a boost in fuel cells competitiveness and performance.This is desired technological step in order to speed up the transition to fossil-free transportation.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Given their high conversion efficiency and zero-emission characteristics, hydrogen fuel cells are extremely attractive for replacing current energy conversion and power generation technologies. Nevertheless, they still need significant technological improvements in order to increase their competitiveness in the mobility and energy conversion market. More to the point, nowadays, the increase of the effective gas-liquid mass transport in the porous electrodes is highly demanded to improve cell performances.The present proposal aims to investigate and improve the transport properties of two phase flows in hydrogen fuel cells porous materials with an innovative bottom-up approach: tailoring the porous microstructure in order to achieve the desired macroscopic feature, i.e. enhancing liquid water removal and promoting gas transport. The pore geometrical microscopic features (size, form, anisotropic structure) and the chemical behaviour of the pores surface (hydro -philic-phobic features) will be tuned and their effect on water imbibition, drainage and spatial and temporal distribution will be investigated by means of numerical simulations. An advancement in fuel cells technology is expected by characterising the optimal design of the porous electrodes which will significantly increase cells performances and open up a route for a new generation of fuel cells.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB · GoteborgCoordinatorSweden
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/790744
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/horizon-results-platform/24301
Data: CORDIS, © European Union