Research

Research focus

An overview of research for the center includes the following:

• Development and application of techniques for the analytical, numerical, and experimental modeling, analysis, and optimization of energy systems, sub-systems, components, and subcomponents:
  • High and low temperature fuel cells for stationary, transportation, and portable applications
  • Subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic aircraft
  • Modeling ranging from the microscopic level to the system level
• Fundamental studies on the Unified Quantum Theory of Mechanics and Thermodynamics and related disciplines (e.g., kinetic theory)

Current research

On-going research for the center includes the following:

• System/component analytical, numerical, and experimental modeling
  • Steady, quasi-stationary, and transient models
  • System/subsystem/component level models (e.g., analytically using lumped-parameter and 1D differential models  in space and time)
  • Macroscopic 1D, 2D, and 3D models of fuel cells (e.g., numerically using finite difference and finite element models)
  • Microscopic / mesoscopic 2D and 3D models of fuel cell components and subcomponents (e.g., analytically and numerically using quantum thermodynamics and kinetic theory)
• System/component development
  • Synthesis/Design
  • Operation/Control
  • Decomposition strategies for large-scale & multi-objective optimization
  • Stochastic modeling and uncertainty analysis
• Applications
  • PEMFC total energy systems
  • SOFC based APUs (auxiliary power units) / SOFC CHP
  • Hybrid SOFC/gas turbine/steam turbine systems
  • PEMFC/DMFC/DFAFC for micro-air vehicles (MAVs)
  • Supersonic and hypersonic aircraft systems and subsystems

Research interests

• Fuel cells and fuel cell systems
• Supersonic and hypersonic as well as uninhabited air vehicles
• Hybrid fuel cell systems
• Analytical/numerical/experimental modeling of coupled phenomena (e.g., heat, mass, and charge transport as well as electrochemistry)
• Decomposition strategies for large-scale optimization
• Energy systems modeling, simulation, optimization, and integration
• Stochastic modeling and uncertainty analysis
• Thermoeconomics / environomics
• Exergy analysis
• Thermodynamics, quantum thermodynamics, kinetic theory (theoretical and applied)Materials
• Controls