Stevens Research Spotlight: Professor Besser’s fuel cells

In a small, innocuous lab on the fourth floor of Burchard, Professor Ronald Besser and his students are doing very exciting research on hydrogen fuel cells.

For reference, a typical hydrogen fuel cell is a device which combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. They are often compared to batteries, since both convert chemical energy into usable electric power. There are still major differences between the two, however, such as the fact that a fuel cell will produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied.

For details about Besser’s research, The Stute interviewed research assistant Matthew Mayer, a Chemical Engineering major in the Class of 2019, who has been working on the project since May 2015. He explained that the main focus of the research was redesigning the housing for the fuel cell, stating that “[for a traditional fuel cell] you have this bulky fixture which takes up 90% of the mass and volume, and it’s not producing any of the power.” Without going into too much detail, the design Besser and his recently graduated Ph.D. student came up with replaces the bulky, rigid metal housing with a thin, flexible plastic membrane. It also takes in oxygen from the surrounding atmosphere instead of needing a direct oxygen supply. Together, these modifications significantly reduce the total weight of the fuel cell unit.

Besser’s design is beneficial in almost every possible application, but it is particularly important in applications where the weight is crucial. That is why he is specifically targeting drones for the startup company he plans to build with the design. Every single pound counts when it comes to building drones, as, in the simplest terms, heavier drones require more energy to stay in the air. Thus, reducing the overall weight of the drone would allow for longer flight times. Mayer said that, by Besser’s calculations, using their prototype with a standard consumer drone could result in flights up to five times longer. Hoping to launch by 2021, Besser has already formed an advisory board for the future company and is looking for a new CEO after the last candidate had to back out.