Clean energy

Oct 25, 2012 | Catalysis/Reactions, Energy/Sustainability, Environment, Materials

Delaware is the "epicenter of the fuel cell industry," according to UD's Ajay Prasad.

UD faculty highlight fuel cell advances during symposium at Clayton Hall

:59 a.m., Oct. 25, 2012–More than 40 researchers representing industry, government and academia gathered at Clayton Hall Conference Center on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus Oct. 17-18 to discuss the important role of fuel cells in clean energy technology.

The event was sponsored by the University of Delaware Energy Institute (UDEI) and organized by the Center for Fuel Cell Research (CFCR). Presentations covered current research aimed at improving the performance and durability of fuel cells, reducing their costs, and exploring new methods to produce hydrogen renewably from sunlight.

Talks were focused on two types of fuel cells: polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, which find application in the automotive sector, and solid oxide fuel cells, which are best suited for stationary power.

According to Ajay Prasad, professor of mechanical engineering and CFCR founder-director, fuel cells offer the potential to reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve urban air quality. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells, for example, are highly efficient energy conversion devices that produce zero emissions at the point of use.

For clean energy technologies to be successful, Prasad said it is important for industry and academic experts to work collectively. CFCR’s role is to facilitate collaboration between various parties working in this area with events such as symposiums and workshops.

“Delaware is the epicenter of the fuel cell industry with W.L. Gore, DuPont and now Bloom Energy in our midst,” Prasad said. Air Liquide, another neighbor of UD, he continued, is one of the world’s largest producers of industrial gases, including hydrogen.

UD faculty are actively engaged in efforts to improve fuel cell performance and to help commercialize them. It is work that Prasad believes aligns with UD’s “Initiative for the Planet,” a major theme in the University’s Path to Prominence strategic plan.

“It makes sense that UD is actively engaged in fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure research,” he said.

Symposium presenters included:

  • Shoibal Banerjee, program manager, DuPont;
  • Bill Bockoven, director of government sales, Bloom Energy;
  • Joshua Hertz, UD assistant professor of mechanical engineering;
  • Greg Jackson, University of Maryland professor of mechanical engineering;
  • Will Johnson, manager of government contracts, W.L. Gore and Associates;
  • E. Caglan Kumbur, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Drexel University;
  • Ajay Prasad, UD professor of mechanical engineering and director of CFCR;
  • Mike Santare, UD professor of mechanical engineering;
  • Prabhakar Singh, University of Connecticut professor and director of the Center for Clean Energy Engineering; and
  • Yushan Yan, Distinguished Professor of Engineering in UD’s College of Engineering.

A short course held in conjunction with the symposium provided participants a firm understanding of fuel cell science and technology, and introduced the history and operating principles of fuel cells and various loss mechanisms that lead to reduced performance.

Discussions detailed the production and storage of hydrogen, followed by state-of-the-art examples of fuel cells for automotive, stationary power and portable power applications. The short course included a tour of UD fuel cell labs and a demonstration of the UD fuel cell bus.

Article by Megan Marschall

Catalysis/ReactionsClean energy