Nature-Inspired Hydrogen Fuel Cell Architecture for Aerospace Propulsion

About the Project

Applications are invited for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship within the UK EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation. The successful candidate will join a diverse and inclusive research team addressing one of aviation’s key challenges: the decarbonisation of regional aircraft through advanced hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) offer high efficiency, low operating temperatures, and compatibility with hydrogen energy systems, making them promising for zero-emission aviation. However, aerospace deployment is limited by challenges such as non-uniform reactant distribution, pressure losses, and ineffective water management, which can reduce reliability and performance under dynamic operating conditions.

This project will develop nature-inspired fuel cell flow-field designs based on the fractal architecture of the human lung, where hierarchical branching networks enable efficient gas distribution with minimal pressure drop. Computational modelling and simulation will be used to optimise fractal geometries for aviation fuel cell systems, followed by fabrication using advanced additive manufacturing techniques.

Experimental testing will evaluate performance under aerospace-representative conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on water management, using neutron imaging to visualise liquid water accumulation and guide capillary-driven strategies for effective water removal.