Thesis proposal: Techno-economic assessment of directly fuelled ammonia fuel cells

The Centre for Sustainable Energy is looking for a young student interested in an internship/thesis experience in the field of Sustainable Energy.

This thesis delves into the promising realm of directly fueled ammonia fuel cells (DAFCs), assessing their economic viability and potential for widespread adoption. The scope encompasses various DAFC architectures, including Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), across diverse application sectors like power generation, transportation, and maritime shipping.

Planned activities

The activities revolve around crafting a robust techno-economic framework. This includes:

Developing a 0D-1D model, which will capture the key thermodynamic and electrochemical processes within the DAFC, simulating its performance under various operating conditions;
Building an optimization code, which will optimize the DAFC design for specific applications, maximizing efficiency and minimizing cost;
Defining a comprehensive set of scenarios: different fuel sources, stack sizes, operating modes, and economic landscapes will be considered to paint a holistic picture.

The thesis will produce crucial outputs, including:

Capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX): detailed costs associated with DAFC installation, operation, and maintenance will be calculated;
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): this key metric will be determined, providing a comprehensive view of the DAFC's lifetime cost competitiveness compared to existing technologies.

By providing a thorough techno-economic analysis, this thesis aims to pave the way for informed decision-making regarding the future of directly fueled ammonia fuel cells.

Requirements

Enrolled in master’s degree in energy Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or equivalent;
Good knowledge on tecno-economic;
Good knowledge on modelling energy scenarios and optimization;
Basic programming skills.

How to Apply

All interested parties are asked to fill out the online form by clicking on "Apply Online" in the "Internship opportunities" section, attaching the following documents in .pdf format:

curriculum vitae
motivational letter

For any details about the internship activity, please contact: Matteo Testi testi@fbk.eu

Recruitment Type	Standard
Business Unit	Centro Sustainable Energy
Locations	Science and Technology Hub - Trento