Achievement

Over the past year, chemical engineering student Jeff Marquis has made significant progress in his research on several key fronts. A new comprehensive and rigorous model of his nature-inspired fuel cell has been developed. This model includes the fractal gas distribution network, which mimics the human lung, as well as an advanced agglomerate-saturation model in the reaction zone. Using this model he has been able to predict the performance of the nature-inspired fuel cell design and determine optimum cell parameters. He has also successfully fabricated a working proton exchange membrane fuel cell prototype which includes the novel gas distribution network central to the nature-inspired design. Initial testing is well underway and results are very promising.