Optimisation and Control strategy of Hydrogen Recirculation in PEMFC systems considering phase changes (OCHRE)

This MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship will bring the excellent young researcher, currently a postdoctoral researcher at Northeastern University, to promote the synergy between water vapour condensation and hydrogen recirculation to improve proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance. The outcome of the project will contribute to the improvement of hydrogen recirculation efficiency, thus achieving higher fuel cell power in PEMFC systems. The researcher will integrate numerical simulation and experimental visualisation approaches to study the interaction between water vapour condensation and hydrogen recirculation and develop a multi-objective collaborative optimisation strategy for hydrogen utilisation in PEMFC systems. The project has been carefully designed to match the researcher's expertise in transonic mixing flow and performance improvement of ejectors, the expertise of the host institute, University of Reading in numerical modelling and thermodynamics, and the expertise of the secondment institute, University of Kent in experimental studies in fuel cells. In addition to the scientific goals, the researcher will contribute her expertise in transonic mixing flow and will provide important training to EU researchers, industrial contacts and undergraduates by hosting a series of seminars, lecturing in industrial and public dissemination events, giving fluid mechanics courses, and participating in outreach activities.By involving research topics from different fields and collaborations with academic partners, this is a truly interdisciplinary project. The research activities and training in the project will develop the researcher’s expertise in numerical modelling and collaborative optimisation, significantly strengthening her career perspectives to find a tenure-track position in the EU. The proposed project will provide new knowledge and technology for hydrogen recirculation in PEMFC and contribute to the sustainable development of European society.