FCRC Members
 
 


PEOPLE

Principal Investigators Research Associates Post Doctoral Fellows Ph.D. Candidates M.Sc. Candidates

Research Assistants

FCRC Graduates

FCRC Principal Investigators

 
Brant

Dr. Brant A. Peppley (FCRC Director)
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Fuel Cells
Department of Chemical Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests
o Fuel Processing - methanol, gasoline, diesel reforming
o Reliability and Durability of PEMFCs
o Mathematical Modeling and Optimization of PEMFC Power

Website:

http://chemeng.queensu.ca/people/faculty/peppley/

www.sofccanada.com

Kunal

Dr. Kunal Karan (FCRC Associate Director)
Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests
o Engineered Electrodes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
o Development and Performance Characterization of SOFC Composite Cathodes.
o Nano-engineered, structured electrodes for PEMFCs
o Mathematical Modeling of Fuel Cells
o Detailed Model of PEMFC Catalyst Layer

Website: http://www.chemeng.queensu.ca/people/karan/

Dr. J.G. Pharoah, P.Eng (FCRC Associate Director)
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests
o Transport PEMFC Modelling
o SOFC Modelling
o Application of CFD to design
o Fuel Cell Transport

Website: http://me.queensu.ca/people/pharoah/

Dr. Christopher P. Thurgood
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Royal Military College of Canada

 

Dr. Boyd Davis
Adjunct Professor
Department of Mining Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests:
o Chemical Hydrogen Storage

o Metallurgical Process Development
oComputational Thermochemistry
o Metal Recycling

Website: http://mine.queensu.ca/people/faculty/Davis/

 

Dr. Patrick H. Oosthuizen, P. Eng., Fellow ASME
Professor Emeritus
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests:
o Basic Studies of Natural and Mixed Convective Heat Transfer
o Fuel Cell Modelling
o Heat Transfer through Windows

o Modelling of Solar Energy Systems for Buildings

Website: http://me.queensu.ca/people/oosthuizen/

Dr. Steven  Beale, P.Eng., F.ASME, F.IMechE

Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University

Senior Research Officer, Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology,

National Research Council


Research Interests:

o Transport phenomena in the passages of fuel cells
o Heat and mass transfer
o Multi-phase flow

o Porous media
o Stack modelling

Website:  http://cfd.icpet.nrc.ca/beale

Pascale Champagne

 

Dr. Pascale Champagne
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering &
Department of Chemical Engineering
Queen's University

Research Interests:
o Biomass conversion

o Recovery of higher-value chemicals from waste biomass

Bionergy

o Solid waste management; minimizing the impact of municipal, agricultural and industrial activities on surface water and groundwater contamination

o composting and biostabilization of municipal, agricultural and industrial biosolids.

o Passive treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters and leachates

Website:

http://www.civil.queensu.ca/ca/people/faculty/champagne

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Research Associates

 
Ela Halliop

Ela Halliop (Senior Research Associate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Electrochemical processes in PEMFC's.

Mark Hoidas

Mark Hoidas  (Research Associate)

Supervisor:Dr. A. Docoslis

Research Focus:

Dzmitry Malevich

Dr. Dzmitry Malevich (Senior Research Associate)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Electrochemistry, Electrocatalysis, Surface and Interface Chemistry


Website: http://post.queensu.ca/~malevich/

Aidu Qi

Dr. Aidu Qi(Research Associate)

Supervisors: Brant Peppley & Chrisopher Thurgood

Research Focus:

  • Fuel processing for H2-rich gas generation from bio-fuels;
  • Reformer/reactor R&D as balance of plant for PEMFC or SOFC;
  • Catalyst design, engineering and characterization;
  • Reactions/processes integration, intensification and optimization
Madhu Saha

Dr. Madhu Saha (Research Associate)

Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus:

  • Electrochemistry of electrode materials for electrochemical energy conversion and storage
  • Nano-scale electro-catalyst development for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)
  • Gas diffusion electrode inks formulation and Membrane Electrode Assembly  fabrication, and characterization in PEMFCs

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Post-Doctoral Fellows

 
Odne Burheim

Odne Burheim (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisor: Dr. Jon Pharoah

Research Focus:

Hae-Won Choi

Hae-Won Choi (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisors: Dr. Jon Pharoah/Dr. Steven Beale

Research Focus: Solid Oxide Fuel Cel (SOFC) modeling; SOFC system design and analysis with Open FOAM CFD Toolbox; transport modeling for microstructure of SOFC composite electrodes.

 

Keith Huynh

Keith Huynh (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisors: Dr.Brant Peppley/Dr. Boyd Davis

Research Focus:

Utilization of automobile engine waste heat to power a thermally regenerative fuel cell.

 

Misha Monder

Misha Monder (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Using first principles mathematical models, along with modeling guided experiments, to better understand the coupled physical and chemical processes in solid oxide fuel cells.

 

 

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Ph.D. Candidates

 

Jan De Bakker (Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Boyd Davis

Research Focus: Molten Salt Hydrates, which are highly concentrated solutions of such salts as magnesium, calcium and iron chlorides. My research will investigate the thermodynamics of MSHs and look at applications for these melts in metallurgy and heat storage.

 
David Harvey

David Harvey (Ph.D. Candidate)
Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Direct numerical simulation of PEM catalysts

 

 

Barath Jayasankar

Barath Ram Jayasankar (Ph.D. Candidate)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus:

Modeling and impedance analysis of PEM fuel cell 

Mobin Baboli

Mobin Khakbaz-Baboli(Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah/Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Numerical modeling of PEM catalyst layers.

Chenxi Li

Chenxi Li(Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Pascale Champagne

Research Focus: Enhance anaerobic digestion process for biogas production using municipal organic waste treatment.

Mayur Mundhwa

Mayur Mundhwa(Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Chris Thurgood (RMC)

Research Focus: Enbridge/MCFC

Rajesh Parmer

Rajesh Parmar (Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: To develop a microchannel reactor for diesel and biodiesel reforming.

Devproshad Paul

Devproshad Kumer Paul(Ph.D. Candidate)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan/Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of catalyst layer, MEA fabrication, PEM Fuel Cell performance.

Sangeeta Shakrawar

Sangeeta Shakrawar (Ph.D. Candidate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley/Jon Pharoah

Research Focus:

Thermal stress analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)"

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M.Sc. Candidates

 
Nakkiran Arulmozhi

Nakkiran Arulmozhi (M.Sc. Candidate)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus:

Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) mechanism in mixed-conductor SOFC cathodes. Experimental studies on Transport and kinetics phenomena at cathode/Electrolyte interface using impedance spectroscopy (micro-probe) on dense and porous systems

Craig Baker

Craig Baker (M.Sc. Candidate)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Numerical simulation of PEMFC and PEM cathode.

Drew Blore

Drew Blore (M.Sc. Candidate)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Numerical modeling of PEM fuel cells.

Harsh Dhingra

Harsh Dhingra  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Enbridge/MCFC

Jonas Gerson

Jonas Elliott Gerson  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: The creation of novel mircropumps for fuel cell and related applications. I will be functionalizing PDMS to create cost-effective micropumps to deal with water accumulation in PEM fuel cells.

Eric Hardjo

Eric Hardjo  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Dr. Kunal Karan

Research Focus: My research focus is on single-pore microstructural mathematical modeling of SOFC anode. I will be investigating the full chemical and electrochemical kinetics occurring at the micro-pore anode. The heat and transport effects will be investigated as well. The model will be constructed in COMSOL simulation software.

Jerome James

Jerome James (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Imaging the porous transport layer of PEM Fuel Cells under various loading situations using micro x-ray tomography.

Yasir Khan

Yasir Z. Khan (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus:

Aida Khosravi

Aida Khosravi (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Catalytic coatings of metal foam monoliths for compact reformers.

Jillian Lackey

Jillian Lackey (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Pascale Champagne

Research Focus: Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC’s) are a promising technology for producing clean electrical power from reformed hydrocarbon fuels. Before a fuel can be used, its effects on the SOFC must be known. I will be conducting a sensitivity analysis of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (T-SOFC) to reformate of the anaerobic digestion process

Seyed Alirezaa Tanhatan Naseri

Seyed Alireza Tanhatan Naseri (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Fuel processing and process integration for fuel cell systems

Amin Oliazadeh

Amin Oliazadeh  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Boyd Davis

Research Focus:

Kristin Skrecky

Kristin Skrecky  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Boyd Davis

Research Focus:

Alexandru Sonoc

Alexandru Sonoc  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Christopher Thurgood

Research Focus: Biogas conditioning/purification - purification of biogas for use in solid oxide fuel cells

Ed Thomas

Edward Thomas  (M.Sc. Candidate)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Integrated microreactors/heat exchangers.

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Research Assistants
Stephen Trevor Wartman

Stephen Trevor Wartman (Research Assistant)

Supervisor: Chris Thurgood (RMC)

Research Focus: The steam reforming of biofuels; specifically higher alochols such as 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-mtheyl-1-propanol.

 

 

 

Surmita Paul

Surmita Paul (Research Assistant)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan (FCRC)

Research Focus:

 

 

 

 

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FCRC Graduates

 
Abdul


Mohamed Abdul
(M.Sc.)
Supervisors: Kunal Karan, Boyd Davis

Research Focus: Extraction of hydrogen from NaBH4 utilizing ionic liquids.

Thesis Defended:  November 2006

 

 

 

Atom

Name Withheld (Research Assistant 1)

Supervisor: Christopher Thurgood

Research Focus: Rejuvenation of an ATR (autothermal reformer) to test the performance of a modified catalyst. The ATR was constructed and used by a former Masters student.

Ryan Aubin

Ryan Aubin (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Boyd Davis

Research Focus: The development of a thermally regenerative fuel cell utilizing low-grade industrial waste heat.

Thesis Defended: September 2009

 

 

Atom

Mark Austin (M.Sc.)
Supervisors: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: September 2005

 

 

 

Adegboyega Babasola

Adegboyega Babasola (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Fuel cell for generating Non-Combustion Thermal Energy for preheating at pressure drop point in gas pipeline transportation.

Thesis Defended: August 6, 2010

 

 

David Castagne

David Castagne (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Kim McAuley, Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Investigation of water transport in PEMFCs.

Thesis Defended: September 2008

 

 

 

Alex

Alex Davis (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Analysis, design and fabrication of microchannel chemical reactors.

Thesis Defended:  April 2006

 

 

Atom

Dan Hamilton (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: November 2005

 

 

 

David Harvey

David Harvey (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Thesis Defended:

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Hoidas

Mark Hoidas  (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Docoslis

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: December 17, 2009

 

 

Cliff Howard

Cliff Howard (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Pat Oosthuizen

Research Focus: Investigating natural gas expansion turbine and fuel cell hybrid system for power generation at pressure letdown stations.

Thesis Defended: October 29, 2009

 

Ben Kenney

Ben Kenney (Ph.D.)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Cathode design for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell

Thesis Defended: December 18, 2009

 

 

Jin Kim

Jin Kim (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Nicolas Cunningham and Chris Thurgood

Research Focus: To develop an air-breathing PEM fuel cell which uses porous carbon foam (RVC) in the cathode side.

Thesis Defended: January 20, 2009

 

 

Lankin

Mike Lankin (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Fabrication of thin layer electrolytes via electrophoretic deposition for solid oxide fuel cell applications; Direct ethanol fuel cells.

Thesis Defended: December 2006

 

Atom

Dean Latham (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Kim McAuley

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: December 2008

 

 

Atom

Flora Lo (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: December 2005

 

 

 

Emmanuel Resch

Emmanuel Resch (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Mathematical modelling of PEM/SOFC fuel cells.
Email:  emmanuel.resch@gmail.com

Thesis Defended: October 2008

 

 

Atom


Lan Sun
(Ph.D.)
Supervisor: Pat Oosthuizen

Research Focus: Mathematical modelling of PEM fuel cells.

Thesis Defended: December 2006

 

 

Atom

Wei Sun (M.Sc)
Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: January 2005

 

 

 

Steve


Steve Sylvestre
(M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Pat Oosthuizen

Research Focus: Numerical modelling of hydrogen production from iso-octane in an authothermal reforming reactor.

Thesis Defended: August 29 2007

 

 

Brian

Brian Tysoe (M.Sc.)
Supervisor: Jon. G. Pharoah and Steven Beale

Research Focus: Numerical and experimental characterization of PEMFC electrodes.

Thesis Defended:  October 2006

 

 

 

Shaw

Adam Shaw (M. Sc.)
Supervisors: Stephen Harrison, Patrick Oosthuizen

Research Focus: Experimental analysis of an autothermal gasoline reformer for automotive purposes.

Thesis Defended: March 2008

StJohn

Adam St. John (M. Sc.)
Supervisors: Boyd Davis, Jon Pharoah, Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Hybrid hydrogen storage method.

Thesis defended: Fall 2007

Andrea

Andrea Van Bruinessen (M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan

Research Focus: Nanoengineered and Structured Electrodes for PEM Fuel Cells.

Thesis Defended: December 2008

Atom

Markus Van Doormall(M.Sc.)

Supervisor: Jon Pharoah

Research Focus:

Thesis Defended: October 2005

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Former HQP

Ruhul Amin

Ruhul Amin (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisor: Kunal Karan

(Left FCRC January 30, 2010)

Research Focus: Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathode materials, special emphasis on micro-contact measurement for elucidating the mechanism of oxygen reduction kinetics.

Arganthael Berson

Arganthaël Berson (Post Doctoral Fellow)

Supervisor: Dr. Jon Pharoah

Research Focus: Experimental characterization of the two-phase flow in the micro-channels of PEM fuel cells.

 

Arunabha Kundu

Dr. Arunabha Kundu (Research Associate)

Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Development of Stable and Durable Catalyst for Diesel Reforming.

Rajender Kondakindi

Dr. Rajender Kondakindi (Research Associate)

Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Development of carbon and sulfur tolerant catalysts for the diesel reforming. Development of low-temperature sinterable electrolyte and new anode materials.

Alex

Dr. Ying Wan (Research Associate)

Supervisor: Brant Peppley

Research Focus: Ionic conducting polymers; Solid polymer electrolytes; Polymer composite membranes; Alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

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