BLESSED · Bridging Models at Different Scales To Design New Generation Fuel Cells for Electrified Mobility
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2023-02-01 → 2027-09-30
- EU contribution
- €3,501,490
- Participants
- 24
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN-ID
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Bridging Models at Different Scales To Design New Generation Fuel Cells for Electrified Mobility
BLESSED (msca-dn-blessed.eu) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network tackling the urgent challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the transition to carbon-neutral mobility solutions. The project develops an innovative multi-scale, machine-learning assisted, simulation framework to model hydrogen-powered Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) from the atomistic processes up to the complete cell. At its core, BLESSED focuses on the simultaneous consideration of complex physico-chemical phenomena occurring at all length scales, such as catalytically-assisted chemical reactions, contact of rough surfaces, mechanical/chemical degradation of membranes, fluid flows in porous media etc., at affordable computational cost. Through a combination of multi-disciplinary computational methods with Machine Learning (ML), each length scale’s highly accurate model is bridged to adjacent scales. Following the development of a holistic framework, a top-down length scale approach is planned to be followed in order to optimise simultaneously the PEMFC and its sub-components. Training is central to BLESSED. Fifteen doctoral researchers are working across disciplines — including chemistry, physics, computer science, and engineering — gaining hands-on expertise in electrochemistry, reacting flows, fluid mechanics, materials, optimisation methods and ML. These skills are critical for driving innovation in efficient, durable and affordable carbon-neutral powertrains. By revolutionising the design process of next generation PEMFCs and accelerating the introduction of alternative powertrains for electrified vehicles, BLESSED directly supports the European Green Deal and the EU’s vision for carbon neutrality by 2050, promoting sustainable energy conversion, resource efficiency, and circular economy pathways toward a greener, more resilient future.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
To achieve the goals of the European Green Deal on climate neutrality, a 90% reduction in transport emissions is needed by 2050. The automotive industry urgently needs to accelerate the introduction of alternative powertrains for electrified vehicles. Hydrogen-powered Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are carbon-free power devices that meet these goals in both mobile and stationary applications. BLESSED aims at revolutionising the design process of next generation PEMFCs, to improve efficiency, durability and affordability for widespread use, with direct implications in clean energy and sustainable industry/mobility. BLESSED will train 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) to solve Multi-Scale (MS) engineering challenges, from the electrons up to the device level, through a unique combination of multi-disciplinary computational methods with Machine Learning (ML) to bridge each length scale’s highly accurate model to adjacent scales. Then, a top-down length scale approach will be followed to optimise PEMFC and its components. To this end, the 15 DCs will synergistically develop a unique MS computational framework for the all-scale PEMFC analysis/design, assisted by ML tools. This will allow the simultaneous consideration of complex physico-chemical phenomena occurring at all length scales, such as catalytically-assisted chemical reactions, contact of rough surfaces, mechanical/chemical degradation of membranes, fluid flows in porous media etc., at affordable computational cost. The proposed ID-network brings together world-class academic expertise on numerical modelling and simulation in electrochemistry, reacting flows, fluid mechanics, materials, optimisation methods and ML, with industrial developers. With a strong focus on industrial applications, BLESSED will develop methodologies and tools to exceed state-of-the-art in PEMFCs by minimising the Platinum group metal content and corrosion while maximising mass transport and electrical conductivity.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV · Bruxelles / BrusselCoordinatorBelgium
- AC2T RESEARCH GMBH · Wiener NeustadtAustria
- ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG · FreiburgGermany
- ASOUTI V & SIA OE · PIRAEUSGreece
- AVL LIST GMBH · GrazAustria
- Altair Engineering Single shareholder ltd · ΘεσσαλονικηGreece
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
- ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION · ATHINAGreece
- FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV · MunchenGermany
- FREUDENBERG TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION SE & CO. KG · WeinheimGermany
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE · LondonUnited Kingdom
- INSTITUT TEHNICKIH NAUKA SRPSKE AKADEMIJE NAUKA I UMETNOSTI - INSTITUTE OF TECHNICAL SCIENCES OF THE SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS · BelgradeSerbia
- MATGENIX · ThuinBelgium
- OPENCFD LIMITED · Bracknell BerkshireUnited Kingdom
- PANEPISTIMIO KRITIS · RETHIMNOGreece
- SCUOLA INTERNAZIONALE SUPERIORE DI STUDI AVANZATI DI TRIESTE · TriesteItaly
- SIMUNE ATOMISTICS SL · Donostia San SebastianSpain
- SOFTWARE COMPETENCE CENTER HAGENBERG GMBH · HAGENBERGAustria
- TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
- UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN · LOUVAIN LA NEUVEBelgium
- UNIVERSITE DE PICARDIE JULES VERNE · AmiensFrance
- UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE FACULTY OF PHYSICS · BELGRADESerbia
- UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI · LjubljanaSlovenia
- Wendelsbergs beräkningskemi AB · MölnlyckeSweden
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union