CAREER: Fuel Cell Degradation Diagnostics and Control

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CAREER: Fuel Cell Degradation Diagnostics and ControlPI: Steven ShawThis CAREER proposal focuses on developing an understanding of connections between fuel cell degradation and transient electrical loads, including controls that might mitigate degradation in realistic electrical environments. The project will build and validate physical models to predict degradation from the electrical terminals of an operating fuel cell, using an extensive database of proton exchange membrane transient degradation at Montana State University. Using these diagnostics, the research will develop controls for fuel cell systems to achieve acceptable trade-offs between cell degradation and measures of system performance.Intellectual Merit: Fuel cell reliability is generally considered a materials problem, even though the electrical terminals of a fuel cell directly control the chemistry supported by the materials. This project would develop controls and diagnostics at the electrical terminals to help mitigate fuel cell degradation. Broader Impacts: New control schemes developed through this project could enhance the extent to which fuel cells help solve future energy challenges. This project would begin to address the challenge of innovating across traditional engineering disciplines by creating a cross-disciplinary laboratory for the required undergraduate controls class in electrical engineering. Hands-on opportunities in the new lab would enhance student understanding, allow research projects to be more accessible to undergraduates, and prepare students to solve future practical problems.