• Elisabetta Schettino

  • Theme:Chemical Energy Converters
  • Project:Ammonia-fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Aircraft Applications
  • Supervisor: Chris Bowen ,Tom Fletcher ,Frank Marken
  • Industry Partner: GKN
  • The Gorgon's Head - Bath University Logo
Photo of Elisabetta Schettino

Bio

Elisabetta graduated in 2019 with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her academic background comprehends several projects regarding Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) such as: Design of a full car aerodynamic model; Design of a heath exchanger for use in the production of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) optimised for a minimum pressure drop; and Simulation of a 3 bar explosions on a Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO).

As an extracurricular activity, she was part of a team building a Hydrogen-Fuelled vehicle to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM). SEM is a competition where students from all over Europe design and build vehicles with the aim of being fuel/energy efficient. In the team she was the Head of Body-work as well as the Safety Officer. This two-year opportunity allowed Elisabetta to expand her knowledge and experience on Fuel Cell piping and electronics

FunFacts

  • I have been taught how to make fresh pasta at the age of 4
  • I have a condition called Aquagenica Urticaria which makes me allergic to any kind of water but practiced swimming as a sport for many years
  • I hate the smell of strawberries
  • I cannot stand the sound of hair dryers and vacuum cleaners, so I often listen to music through my headphones when I need to use them
  • I get nauseous when looking at SEM images (even when they are on papers or books!)

Ammonia-fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Aircraft Applications

Elisabetta's PhD proposes the (1) characterisation and (2) optimisation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for usage in aerospace electric propulsion applications. Characterisation of the cells will focus on cycle efficiency of different fuels (Ammonia, hydrocarbons, H2) and the internal chemistry/catalysers used. Optimisation will be on structural weight reduction, power transfer efficiency, and thermal management of waste heat using AM.

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