Thermal Management (PEM) Team

Mentors NASA/JSC Mentor: TAMU Faculty Mentor: Dr. F. Best, Nuclear Engineering Gradute Student Mentors: Cable Kurwitz Student Team Members Vanna Keller (OE), Ernest Everret (ME), Nikhil Bhatnagar (AERO), Christie Tipton (BIEN), Catlin Diane (AERO), Amber Bolt (AERO)

Project Summary Objective Understand the fluid mechanics of two-phase flow though a complex geometry of a prototypic fuel cell including the effects of a reduced gravity environment on the distribution and hold up of liquid within parallel channels within the cell. Tasks Fall Semester Literature search to discover current state-of-the-art Define requirements and assumptions for model Build and test simple manifold experiment Provide information and assistance to modeling effort Spring Semester Assist in refinement of numeric model to better describe fuel cell stack Modify test bed if needed Validate model with available data Exercise model (ground testing) over range of inputs provided by NASA Exercise model (flight testing) over range of inputs provided by NASA 2009 Semester Report Thermal Management (PEM) Report 2009 Spring Presentation Thermal Management Presentation 2008 Fall Presentation Thermal Management Presentation