Energy Systems Design Laboratory (ESDLab)

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
What the facility does

Research on energy systems fabrication, characterization, analysis and design, such as fuel cells, electrolyzers and flywheels.

Areas of expertise

The goal of the Energy Systems Design Laboratory is to develop, via experimental analysis and mathematical modelling, a fundamental understanding of mass, charge, and reactive transport in mechanical and electrochemical energy systems that can minimize environmental and socio-political impact while maintaining reliability, durability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. To achieve this goal, we use the following approach:

  • Fabricate and characterize, via ex-situ and in-situ testing, hydrogen polymer electrolyte fuel cells and electrolyzers;
  • Develop mathematical models of energy systems such as polymer electrolyte fuel cells and electrolyzers, using fluid mechanics, mass transport in porous media, charge transport and electrochemistry;
  • Develop optimization formulations for the design of the energy system; and
  • Fabricate and test the computationally optimized energy systems.
Research services
  • Fabrication, characterization and testing of polymer electrolyte fuel cells and electrolyzers
  • Characterization of porosity and pore-size distribution of porous media via mercy intrusion porosimetry
  • Measurement of gas permeability and molecular diffusivity of porous media samples
Sectors of application
  • Automotive
  • Clean technology
  • Education
  • Energy (renewable and fossil)
  • Environmental technologies and related services

Equipment

Function

Quantachrome PoreMaster 33 mercury intrusion porosimeter

Measures porosity and pore-size distribution

In-house gas permeabilty and diffusivity setup

Measures gas permeability and diffusivity

Scribner 850e Multi-Range Fuel Cell Test Systems (2)

Fuel cell test stations measuring fuel cell performance (iV-curve), EIS and CV.

Princeton Applied Research VersaSTAT4 Potentiostat

Electrochemical applications; fuel cell development, EIS and CV.
Polymer Electrolyte Electrolyzer Test Stations (4)  
  • Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation Corp.
Title URL
Marc Secanell’s publications (Google Scholar page) https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NjRIwW0AAAAJ&hl=en