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Project Overview

Project Code: ED 28

Project name:

Designing non-flow through fuel cells via architected geometries for space applications

TUM Department:

ED - Mechanical Engineering

TUM Chair / Institute:

Chair of Material Science

Research area:

Electrochemical energy conversion, material science, additive manufacturing, process engineering, microgravity fluid dynamics

Student background:

Aerospace / GeodesyChemical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringSustainability

Further disciplines:

Participation also possible online only:

Planned project location:

Technical University of Munich
Department of Materials Engineering
Chair of Material Science
Boltzmannstr. 15
85748 Garching
Germany

Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

Given name:

Kneev

Family name:

Sharma

E-mail:

kneev.sharma@tum.de

Phone:

+49.89.289.15294

Additional Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

Professor Dr. techn.

Given name:

Jan

Family name:

Torgersen

E-mail:

jan.torgersen@tum.de

Phone:

+49.89.289.15246

Additional Project Supervisor - Contact Details


Title:

Given name:

Family name:

E-mail:

Phone:

Project Description


Project description:

* Background *
Recent advances in additive manufacturing and stable pyrolysis of structures have enabled the production of high resolution, geometrically complex, and electrically conductive parts. With feature sizes encroaching the nanometer scale, a new era of architected electrodes is emerging. This technology has tremendous potential in the energy conversion sector, via fuel cell systems. In addition to its part in supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, these advancements are setting the stage for sustainable transport and presence beyond Earth.

* Individual Tasks *
The students will support various tasks throughout our in-house end-to-end prototyping and testing facilities, as suits their interests.
Simulation and design:
- Finding inspiration for microflow fluid management
- Designing new tools for optimizing workflow
- Using open-source tools for computation fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations
Additive manufacturing and carbonization:
- Stereolithography and two-photo polymerization
- Post-processing and carbonization of electrodes
Characterization:
- Spectroscopy (mass, FTIR, XRD) and SEM
- Electrochemical testing of samples
- In-situ fuel cell test station performance characterization

* Expected Outcomes *
The students are expected to gain a wholistic appreciation for fuel cell operation, focusing on the fluid transport at the cathode. Students should additionally gain insight into the uniqueness of fuel cell operation in space transport and settlement. We expect that students gain strong practical skills related to their chosen path of simulation, additive manufacturing, and/or characterization.
Importantly, we expect potential students to gain insight into their own interests in fuel cell technology, and the myriad of applications enabled by additive manufacturing and stable pyrolysis of structures.

Working hours per week planned:

40

Prerequisites


Required study level minimum (at time of TUM PREP project start):

3 years of bachelor studies completed

Subject related:

Other:

  • Keine Stichwörter