EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and their Fuels - Clean Power for the 21st Century

CDT提案“燃料电池及其燃料- 21世纪的清洁能源”是一个重点和结构化的计划，在9年内培训bb5052名学生，了解该主题的基本原理，并指导他们进行博士论文。这项倡议在对训练有素和经验丰富的工程和科学工作人员的需求在本十年结束前开始大幅增加之前，就满足了发展人力资源的需要。燃料电池产品的市场引入预计将从2015年开始，并且随着市场进入，对开发强大且具有成本效益的产品的需求将同步增长。该联盟由伯明翰大学（领头）、诺丁汉大学、拉夫堡大学、帝国理工学院和伦敦大学学院组成。阿尔斯特大学作为合作伙伴加入开发教学模块。6名中心主任和60余名导师团队拥有优秀的科研和教学背景，在国内和国际项目以及燃料电池、氢和其他燃料加工研究和开发方面有着良好的声誉。中心课程包括七个必修课程单元，价值70个学分，包括四个燃料电池和氢技术的基本介绍模块和一个安全问题模块，以及两个根据行业合作伙伴的建议设计的面向商业的模块。另外，价值50学分的可选模块涵盖了燃料电池和燃料处理技术的更专业方面，但也包括社会经济主题和商业技能的进一步模块，这些模块对学生在工业领域的职业生涯做好准备是非常宝贵的。该计划涵盖以下主题，个别学生将从中选择他们的专业领域：-电化学，建模，催化；-低温燃料电池（PEFC， 80和120 -130摄氏度）和高温燃料电池（SOFC）在500至800摄氏度工作的材料和组件；-低温和高温燃料电池系统的设计、组件、优化和控制；包括在燃料电池中直接使用碳氢化合物、燃料加工和处理燃料杂质；氢系统集成，包括混合燃料电池和燃气轮机系统；优化，控制设计和建模；将可再生能源纳入以氢作为稳定矢量的能源系统；-利用化石燃料和碳中性原料、生物过程和光化学生产氢；氢的储存和净化；低温和高温电解槽的发展；-各种尺度（纳米级功能层到系统级）退化现象的分析，包括加速测试程序的开发；-社会经济和跨领域问题：公共卫生、公众接受、经济、市场引进；对FCH技术对国内和国际能源供应的益处进行系统研究。培训计划可以建立在过去参与大学所做的大量投资的基础上，并由EPSRC、欧盟、工业和私人基金推动。实验室的基础设施是最新的，并充分支持学生群体的工作。行业资金用于补充EPSRC的资金，并在设想的52个安置名额的基础上增加学生。该中心将强调跨科学和工程领域的网络和信息交流的重要性，从而与EPSRC-SUPERGEN中心在燃料电池和氢方面进行强有力的互动，从而整合在该研究领域活跃的其他英国大学，并鼓励与其他欧洲和国际培训计划进行交流。这些模块将对来自互动行业的专业人士开放，以促进学生与行业同行的交流。

The CDT proposal 'Fuel Cells and their Fuels - Clean Power for the 21st Century' is a focused and structured programme to train >52 students within 9 years in basic principles of the subject and guide them in conducting their PhD theses. This initiative answers the need for developing the human resources well before the demand for trained and experienced engineering and scientific staff begins to strongly increase towards the end of this decade. Market introduction of fuel cell products is expected from 2015 and the requirement for effort in developing robust and cost effective products will grow in parallel with market entry.The consortium consists of the Universities of Birmingham (lead), Nottingham, Loughborough, Imperial College and University College of London. Ulster University is added as a partner in developing teaching modules. The six Centre directors and the 60+ supervisor group have an excellent background of scientific and teaching expertise and are well established in national and international projects and Fuel Cell, Hydrogen and other fuel processing research and development.The Centre programme consists of seven compulsory taught modules worth 70 credit points, covering the four basic introduction modules to Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technologies and one on Safety issues, plus two business-oriented modules which were designed according to suggestions from industry partners. Further - optional - modules worth 50 credits cover the more specialised aspects of Fuel Cell and fuel processing technologies, but also include socio-economic topics and further modules on business skills that are invaluable in preparing students for their careers in industry. The programme covers the following topics out of which the individual students will select their area of specialisation:- electrochemistry, modelling, catalysis;- materials and components for low temperature fuel cells (PEFC, 80 and 120 -130 degC), and for high temperature fuel cells (SOFC) operating at 500 to 800 degC;- design, components, optimisation and control for low and high temperature fuel cell systems; including direct use of hydrocarbons in fuel cells, fuel processing and handling of fuel impurities; integration of hydrogen systems including hybrid fuel-cell-battery and gas turbine systems; optimisation, control design and modelling; integration of renewable energies into energy systems using hydrogen as a stabilising vector;- hydrogen production from fossil fuels and carbon-neutral feedstock, biological processes, and by photochemistry; hydrogen storage, and purification; development of low and high temperature electrolysers;- analysis of degradation phenomena at various scales (nano-scale in functional layers up to systems level), including the development of accelerated testing procedures;- socio-economic and cross-cutting issues: public health, public acceptance, economics, market introduction; system studies on the benefits of FCH technologies to national and international energy supply.The training programme can build on the vast investments made by the participating universities in the past and facilitated by EPSRC, EU, industry and private funds. The laboratory infrastructure is up to date and fully enables the work of the student cohort.Industry funding is used to complement the EPSRC funding and add studentships on top of the envisaged 52 placements.The Centre will emphasise the importance of networking and exchange of information across the scientific and engineering field and thus interacts strongly with the EPSRC-SUPERGEN Hub in Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, thus integrating the other UK universities active in this research area, and also encourage exchanges with other European and international training initiatives. The modules will be accessible to professionals from the interacting industry in order to foster exchange of students with their peers in industry.