UConn Hosts International Scholars for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research

Strategic Insights -

The University of Connecticut hosted four young engineers from Europe this summer through the UConn Global Hydrogen Summer Experience program, a new initiative to share UConn's expertise in hydrogen technologies with international collaborators in the shipping sector and beyond. The scholars, sponsored by the Lurssen Foundation, conducted research on the use of fuel cells in maritime applications and worked with UConn fuel cell experts on projects studying the effects of different fuels and system designs on efficiency in marine applications. This collaboration aims to make shipping more efficient and sustainable.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UConn Global Hydrogen Summer Experience program is a new initiative that shares UConn's expertise in hydrogen technologies with international collaborators in the shipping sector and beyond.
  • The scholars conducted research on the use of fuel cells in maritime applications and worked with UConn fuel cell experts on projects studying the effects of different fuels and system designs on efficiency in marine applications.
  • The scholars came from Croatia, Germany, and the Netherlands, and represented a range of engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and industrial engineering and management.
  • The scholars pursued individual research projects, including modeling machine learning to increase onboard HVAC system efficiency, simulating a high-temperature fuel cell, and evaluating compact waste heat recovery systems.
  • The program was hosted in collaboration with UConn's Global Training and Development Institute and the University of Connecticut Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2).
  • The Lurssen Foundation funded the fellowships, and the scholars also visited Yale University, Mott Corporation, and NEL Corporation, both Connecticut engineering companies and longterm research partners of UConn.

Statistics:

  • 90% of international trade is shipped overseas (Source: University of Connecticut)
  • 4 young engineers from Europe participated in the UConn Global Hydrogen Summer Experience program
  • The program was funded by the Lurssen Foundation
  • The scholars spent one month at UConn's Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) working on their research projects
  • 6 research projects were conducted by the scholars, including:

+ Modeling machine learning to increase onboard HVAC system efficiency

+ Simulating a high-temperature fuel cell

+ Evaluating compact waste heat recovery systems

+ Examining alternative fuels including methanol and ammonia for high temperature proton exchange fuel cell systems

Sources:

  • University of Connecticut
  • Lurssen Foundation
  • University of Connecticut Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2)
  • Yale University
  • Mott Corporation
  • NEL Corporation