| Project Id
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BITSRMIT024B001228
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| Project Detail
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| Project Title
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A hybrid Proton Exchange Membrane Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell and Proton Battery Engine for efficient hydrogen-based sustainable transportation
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| Senior Supervision Team (BITS)
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| Supervisor name and Title
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Sudha Radhika, Associate Professor
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School or Department (or company, if applicable)
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BITS PILANI, HYDERABAD CAMPUS
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|
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Email ID
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sradhika@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in
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| URL for more info
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https://universe.bits-pilani.ac.in/hyderabad/sudharadhika/Profile
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| a) Are you currently supervising a BITS or RMIT HDR student?
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YES
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| Please comment how many you are supervising
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3
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| b) Have you supervised an offshore candidate before?
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NO
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| If no, what support structures do you have in place?
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|
| If yes, please elaborate
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| Senior Supervision Team (RMIT)
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| Supervisor name and Title
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John Andrews, Professor
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School or Department (or company, if applicable)
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STEM
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Email ID
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john.andrews@rmit.edu.au
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| URL for more info
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https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/a/andrews-professor-john
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| a) Are you currently supervising a BITS or RMIT HDR student?
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NO
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| Please comment how many you are supervising
|
|
| b) Have you supervised an offshore candidate before?
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NO
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| If no, what support structures do you have in place?
|
|
| If yes, please elaborate
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| Other Supervisors (BITS)
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| Supervisor name and Title
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Sujith R, Associate Professor
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School or Department (or company, if applicable)
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BITS PILANI, HYDERABAD CAMPUS
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| Phone Number (Optional)
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+919500168332
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Email ID
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sujith@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in
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| URL for more info
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https://universe.bits-pilani.ac.in/hyderabad/sujithr/Profile
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| Other Supervisors (RMIT)
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| Supervisor name and Title
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Dr Shahin Heidari
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School or Department (or company, if applicable)
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STEM
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| Phone Number (Optional)
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+61399251257
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Email ID
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shahin.heidari@rmit.edu.au
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| URL for more info
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https://www.rmit.edu.au/profiles/h/shahin-heidari
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| Field of Research (For Codes)
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| 400205 | Hybrid, and Electric vehicles and powertrains | 30.00 |
| 400803 | Electrical Energy Generation (incl. renewables, ex | 40.00 |
| 400999 | Electronics, Sensors, and Digital Hardware not els | 30.00 |
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| Project Description
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Considering the onboard difficulties of PEM fuel cells for transportation applications, designing an efficient energy-controlling strategy along with the prognostic health management system will enhance the efficacy as well as effective operational life of the PEM fuel cells significantly. The present strategy aims to operate the PEM fuel cell in its efficient region of operation as a static machine, while the required energy to supply the demand will be externally controlled by the system charging and discharging control. Usually, this strategy will lead to the release of excess energy (Excess energy = Energy of PEM-Energy Demand) which can be routed to an effective energy reservoir that is integrated with the PEM fuel cell stack. Considering the available energy storage systems, especially considering the high energy demand/supply operations, the quick rechargeability of proton flow batteries attracted us to investigate the feasibility and reliability of proton flow batteries as a standalone candidate for an effective energy reservoir system. Since the supplied excess energy will be stored as reserve energy in the proton battery and can be utilized in which system requires peak energy demand or the effective and optimized proton battery can be utilized as a range extender for transportation applications. Additionally, utilizing the PEM unitized regenerative fuel cell (PEM URFC) instead of the PEM fuel cell can extend the operation of the fuel cell by regenerating the hydrogen gas at the external charging mode. Hence, this project will investigate the possible ways of combining a Proton Battery (PB) or Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and/or Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell (URFC) in a hybrid power supply system for automotive applications. Possible combinations are standalone PBs or URFCs, or a conventional PEM fuel cell with a PB or URFC to meet peak demands and to meet the DOE-targeted service life under AST environments. The present study will involve a theoretical analysis of the various hybrid system options combined with simulation, followed by design and testing of small-scale (up to 1 kW) experimental trial systems.
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| Project Deliverable/Outcomes
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• A proof of concept of PEMURFC-PB hybridized energy source for lightweight automotive applications which meets the ultimate DOE targets.
• Development of test bench facilities for conducting AST tests for fuel cells as well as for proton batteries.
• A significant contribution to sustainable transportation by implementing a hybrid PEMURFC-PB energy source.
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| Research Impact Themes
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| ADVANCED MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, DIGITAL TWINS AND HIGH PERFORMING PRODUCTS |
| SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT
| CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES |
| ADVANCED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION | DEEP LEARNING AND PREDICTIVE MODELLING |
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| Which RMIT Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) does your project align to
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AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
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| Which RMIT Enabling Impact Platform (EIP) does your project align to
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SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS PLATFORM
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| Which RMIT Program code will this project sit under?
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DR216P23 PhD (Mech,Manu & Mech Eng)
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| Student Capabilities and Qualifications
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• Sound knowledge and interest in sustainable transportation especially in Fuel cells.
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• Working proficiency in numerical computing and Machine Learning techniques.
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• M.S or M.Tech
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| Preferred discipline of Student
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| Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Information Extraction & Knowledge Extraction, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing |
| Energy: Carbon Capture/Sequestration/Storage, Renewables |
| Materials, Composites, Material Science, Functional Materials, Mettalurgical Engineering |
| Mechanical Enineering, Mechanics, Mechatronics, Aerospace Eng, Hypersonics |
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