Highlights

"Whereas the 19th Century was the century of the steam engine and the 20th Century was the century of the internal combustion engine, it is likely that the 21st Century will be the century of the fuel cell." (Brian Cook, Heliocentris, Vancouver, Canada). Without burning a fuel, fuel cells use hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fuels to produce a electrochemical reaction to generate electrical power. Fuel cells offer the prospect of supplying the world with clean, flexible, and sustainable electrical power.

It is highly desirable for fuel cells to have high power density in a compact volume to serve as power sources. This directly translates into a reduced cost for fuel cell powered devices and facilities due to a diminished number of fuel cells used while meeting the same power requirement needs. Our research has made significant progress in developing a theory to direct the optimization of gas delivery channels and current collectors. Fuel cell design should no longer rely on empirical selection of geometries. We welcome you to collaborate with our laboratory for scientific research, product development and performance improvement.

We have a provisional patent (http://ott.web.arizona.edu/ncsummaryPDFs/UA07-093.pdf) for uniform flow distribution of gas species in a single cell and cell stacks. Please visit our webpage "Energy and Fuel Cell Laboratory" for details.

Also make note that the course "Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Design" is offered every fall semester.

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Courses Taught

•	---	:	"Heat Transfer"
•	---	:	"Thermodynamics"
•	---	:	"Thermal System Analysis"
•	---	:	"Convective Heat Transfer"
•	---	:	"Numerical Heat Transfer"
•	AME 446/546	:	Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Design
•	AME 300	:	Laboratory instrumentation
•	AME 530	:	Advanced thermodynamics
•	AME 412A/B	:	Supervised senior design project
•	Engr 498	:	Supervised senior design project
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Research Expertise

•	Fuel cells, electrolyzers, hydrogen generation and storage
•	Energy and power systems
•	Heat mass transfer (in gas turbines, and HVACR systems)
•	Thermal and flow measurement and imaging techniques
•	Numerical heat transfer
•	Turbulence drag reduction
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Education

•	Ph.D.	:	Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 1995
•	M.S.	:	Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 1991
•	B.S.	:	Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 1988
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Employment

•	2006-date	:	Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Arizona: Assistant Professor
•	2002-2006	:	Mechanical Engineering, The University of Pittsburgh: Research Associate
•	2000-2002	:	Mechanical Engineering, Kyoto University: Research Scientist of Japan Science and Technology Corporation
•	1997-2000	:	National Mechanical Engineering Laboratory at Tsukuba, Japan: Research Scientist (NEDO Industrial Technology Researcher) of New Energy and Industrial Development Organization, Japan
•	1995-1997	:	Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University: Lecturer/Assistant Professor
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Honors and Awards

•	1997	:	NEDO Fellowship (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Japan)
•	1996	:	JSPS Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
•	1994	:	Excellent graduate student, Xi'an Jiaotong University
•	1993	:	Excellent graduate student, Xi'an Jiaotong University
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Professional Services

Reviewer:

•	Aerospace Science and Technology
•	ASME Journal of Heat Transfer
•	International Journal Heat and Mass Transfer
•	Journal of The Electrochemical Society
•	Journal of Power Sources
•	Applied Energy
•	IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies
•	ASME 2005 Heat Transfer Division Conference
•	Conference of ASME 2004 Heat Transfer and Fluid Engineering Division
•	NSF proposal panelist
•	Book reviewer for "Fuel Cell Engines" by Dr. Matthew M. Mench
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Professional Societies

•	ASME	:	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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Research Grants

•	"Finite Element Analysis for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope" PI AURA. 10/9/2006-12/31/2006, $3,647.00.
•	"Construction of Ni Electrodes and Performance Considerations" CoPI Paragon Space Development Corporation. 2/20/2007-2/19/2009, $7,237.00
•	"Power Generation Using Megnetohydrodynamic Generator with a Circulation Flow Driven by Solar-heat-induced Natural Convection" PI P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet. Environmental Protection Agency, 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2008, $10,000.
•	"High Efficiency, Anode Supported, Low Temperature, Protonic SOFC," SBIR Phase I, Navy, Contract #: N00014-07-M-0492, With MER Corporation, Tucson, Arizona, 10/1/2007 - 4/1/2008, $100,000.
•	"Advanced Aerosolization of Metallic Powder Using a Low Temperature Sublimable Solid,' STTR Phase I, ARMY CONTRACT W911SR-07-P-0048, With MER Corporation, Tucson, Arizona, 10/1/2007 - 4/1/2008, $100,000.
•	"User-friendly Solar Ovens for Outdoor and Indoor Use" PI P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet. Environmental Protection Agency, 9/1/2008 - 8/31/2009, $10,000.
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Consulting

•	Materials and Electrochamical Research Corporation
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Students graduated

•	Jeong Pill Ki, MS: "Optimization and Management of Transport and Electrochemical Processes in PEM Fuel Cells," May 12, 2007.
•	Devasubramaniam G. Coopamah, MS: "Analysis and Test of Flow Uniformity in Flow Distributors for Fuel Cells," Dec. 21, 2007.
•	Norzilawaty Md Isa, MS: "Heat and Mass Transfer of Hydrogen Storage," Dec. 14, 2007.
•	Aaron Farber, MS: "Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Design for Micro Aerial Vehicles and Optimization of Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers," Aug. 4, 2008.
•	Ananth Kotwal, MS: "Study and Optimization of Electrochamical and Transport Processes for Planar type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Aug. 5, 2008.
•	Akshay Ajay Kulkarni, MS: "Analysis of Thermal Stress in Multiple Thermal Resistive Layers and Membrane/Electrodes Assembly in a Single SOFC," Aug. 5, 2008.
•	Nikesh Dhar, MS: "Development and Characterization of Single Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell and Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Stack," September 15, 2008.
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Patents

•	Provisional: Uniform Flow Distributor/Collector UA07-093 2007
•	Provisional: A Passive Fuel-Feeding Design of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell UA-08-065 2008
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Publications

Book chapters and journal papers

•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, M. K. Chyu, "Three-dimensional Model for the Conjugate Heat and Gas Species Transport in a Planar Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," International Journal of Transport Phenomenon, Vol. 9, pp. 1-18, 2007.
•	P. W. Li, Laura Schaefer, M. K. Chyu, "Multiple Processes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Chapter-I in book "Transport Phenomena in Fuel Cells," Edited by B. Sunden, and M. Faghri, ISBN: 1-85312-840-6, WIT Press, 2005.
•	P. W. Li, M. K. Chyu, "Electrochemical and Transport Phenomena in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," (invited research review paper), ASME Int. J. of Heat Transfer, Vol. 127, Dec. 2005, pp. 1344-1362.
•	P. W. Li, S. P. Chen, M. K. Chyu, 2005, "Novel Gas Distributors and Optimization for High Power Density in Fuel Cells," Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 140, pp. 311-318.
•	P. W. Li, S. P. Chen, M. K. Chyu, 2006, "To Achieve the Best Performance through Optimization of Gas Delivery and Current Collection in Solid oxide Fuel Cells," ASME Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 188-194.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, M. K. Chyu, 2004, "Numerical Model Coupling the Heat and Gas Species' Multiple Transport Processes in a Tubular SOFC," ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol.126, No.2, pp219-229.
•	P. W. Li, K. Suzuki, "Numerical Modeling and Performance Study of a Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2004, Volume 151, Issue 4, pp. A548-A557.
•	P. W. Li, M. K. Chyu, "Simulation of the Chemical/Electrochemical Reaction and Heat/Mass Transfer for a Tubular SOFC Working in a Stack," Journal of Power Sources, 124(2003), 487-498.
•	P. W. Li, T. Zhang, Q. M. Wang, L. Schaefer, M. K. Chyu, "The Performance of PEM Fuel Cells Fed with Oxygen through the Free-Convection Mode," Journal of Power Sources, 114(2003) 63-69.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, Q. M. Wang, T. Zhang, M. K. Chyu, "Multi-gas Transport and Electrochemical Performance in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Complex Flow Channels," Journal of Power Sources, 115(2003) 90-100.
•	P. W. Li, K. Suzuki, H. Komori, J. H. Kim, "Numerical Simulation of Heat and Mass Transfer in a Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," Thermal Science & Engineering, Vol.9, No.4 (2001), pp. 13-14.
•	P. W. Li, Y. Kawaguchi, A. Yabe, "Transitional Heat Transfer and Turbulent Characteristics of Drag-Reducing Flow through a Contracted Channel," Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer, 2001,Vol. 8, pp23-40.
•	P. W. Li, Y. Kawaguchi, H. Daisaka, A. Yabe, K. Hishida, M. Maeda, "Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement of Drag-Reducing Surfactant Solution Using Micellar Destruction Device in a Two-Dimensional Channel," ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, 2001, Vol.123, pp. 779-789.
•	P. W. Li, W. Q. Tao, "Numerical and Experimental Investigation on Heat/Mass Transfer of Slot-Jet Impinging in a Rectangular Cavity," Int. Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, Vol.14, No.3, Sept, 1993, pp. 246-253.
•	P. W. Li, W. Q. Tao, "Effect of Outflow Boundary Condition on Convective Heat Transfer with Strong Recirculating Flow," Journal Warme-und Stoffubertragung (Journal of Heat Mass Transfer), Vol. 29, No. 8 September, 1994, pp. 463-470.
•	P. W. Li, W. Q. Tao, "Experimental Study on Mass/Heat Transfer of Circular Jet Impingement in Cubical Cavity," Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer, 1995, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 251-261.
•	P. W. Li, M. Chen, W. Q. Tao, "Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Investigation on Local Heat Transfer Characteristics of HFC-134a Forced-Convection Condensation inside Smooth Horizontal Tube," Int. Journal of Heat Transfer Engineering, 2000, Vol.21, No.6, pp. 34-43.
•	P. W. Li, M. Chen, W. Q. Tao, "An Experimental Study on Forced-Convective Condensation Heat Transfer of R134a inside a Horizontal Tube," Journal of Engineering Thermo-physics (In Chinese), Vol.18, No.1, January, 1997.
•	P. W. Li, Y. Kawaguchi, A. Yabe, H. Daisaka, K. Hishida, M. Maeda, "Turbulence Characteristics of Drag-Reducing Flow of Surfactant Solution," Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University, (in Chinese), Vol.35, No. 01, 2001, pp. 37-42.
•	U. Uysal, P-W. Li, M. K. Chyu, F. J. Cunha, "Heat Transfer on Internal Surfaces of a Duct Subjected to Impingement of a Jet Array with Varying jet Hole-Size and Spacing," ASME J. of Turbomachinery, Vol. 128, Issue 1, pp. 158-165.
•	K. Suzuki, P. W. Li, Song Tae Won, "Fuel Cell and Micro Gas Turbine Hybrid for Distributed Energy Generation," Energy and Resources (in Japanese), Vol. 26, No. 4, 2005, pp. 246-250.
•	Y. Kawaguchi, P. W. Li, A. Yabe, K. Hishida, M. Maeda, "Turbulent Characteristics of Drag Deducing Flow by Surfactant Additives," Journal of the Visualization Society of Japan, 1999, Vol.19, Suppl. No.1, pp. 351-354. (in Japanese).
•	M. Chen, P. W. Li, W. Q. Tao, "Experimental Investigation on Heat Transfer of R134a/R22 Forced-Convection Condensation inside Smooth Horizontal Tube," Int. J. of Transport Phenomenon, 2000, Vol. 2, pp. 93-101.
•	M. Chen, P. W. Li, Q. W. Wang, W. Q. Tao, "Theoretical Calculation on Forced Convective Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficient of Nonazeotropic Mixtures inside Tube," (Huagong Xuebao)/ Journal of Chemical Industry and Engineering (China), Vol. 52, No 2, February, 2001, pp. 114-118 (in Chinese).
•	F. M. Li, P. W. Li, W. Li, W. Q. Tao, "Pool Boiling of R134a Outside an Enhanced Tube," Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University (in Chinese), Vol.32, No.3, Mar.1998, pp. 60-63.
•	Yixin Lu, Laura Schaefer, Peiwen Li, 2005, "Numerical Study of a Flat-Tube High Power Density Solid Oxide Fuel Cell - Part 1: Heat/Mass Transfer and Fluid Flow," Journal of Power Sources, Vol.140, pp. 331-339.
•	Yixin Lu, Laura Schaefer, Peiwen Li, 2005, "Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow of a Flat-Tube High Power Density Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," ASME J. of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol.2, pp. 65-69.
•	T. Nishino, H. Komori, P. W. Li, K. Suzuki, "Numerical Study on the Performance of a Tubular-type SOFC and the Effect of Fuel Gas Composition," Thermal Science & Engineering, 2002, Vol. 10 No.4, pp. 57-58.
•	Y. Kawaguchi, T. Segawa, Z. P. Feng, P. W. Li, "Experimental Study on Drag Reducing Channel Flow With Surfactant Additives, - Spatial Structure of Turbulence Investigated by PIV System," Int. J. of Heat and Fluid Flow, Vol. 23, No. 5, October, 2002, pp. 700-709.
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Publications

Referred conference papers (since 2000):

•	Peiwen Li, Devasubramaniam Coopamah, Nikesh Dhar, "Analysis and optimization of flow distribution channels for uniform flow in fuel cells," Proceedings of FEDSM2008, 2008 ASME Fluids Engineering Conference, FEDSM2008-55180, August 10-14, 2008 Jacksonville, Florida USA.
•	Peiwen Li, Devasubramaniam Coopamah, Jeong-Pill Ki, "Uniform Distribution of Species in Fuel Cells using a Multiple Flow Bifurcation Design," Proceedings of FUELCELL2008, Fifth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL2008-65106, June 16-18, Denver Colorado.
•	Juan L. Sepulveda, Raouf O. Loutfy, Sekyung Chang, Peiwen Li, Ananth Kotwal, "Functionally Graded Composite Electrodes for Advanced Anode-supported Intermediate-Temperature SOFC," 32nd International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC), Session 3: 5th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC): Materials, Science, and Technology, Daytona Beach, Florida, January 27-Feb. 1, 2008.
•	Peiwen Li, Greg Tao, "Effect of the Geometries on Current Collectors on the Power Density in a Solid oxide Fuel Cell," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Nov. 11-15, 2007, Seattle Washington, IMECE2007-41032.
•	Peiwen Li, Ananth Kotwal, J. L. Sepulveda, R. O. Loutfy, S. Chang, "Analytical Study and Optimization for the Functional Graded Composite Electrodes in Advanced Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," Proceedings of FUELCELL2007, Fifth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, June 18-20, 2007, New York, FUELCELL2007-25061.
•	Pei-Wen Li, Jeong-Pill Ki, "Analysis And Optimization of Current Collecting System in PEM Fuel Cells," Proceedings of FUELCELL2007, Fifth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL2007-25060.
•	Peiwen Li, Cho Lik Chan, C. F. Chen, "Buoyancy-driven Circulation Flow of an Electrically Conductive Liquid in a Rectangular Annulus," Proceedings of HT2007, 2007, ASME-JSME, Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference, July 8-12, 2007, Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA, HT2007-32289.
•	S. P. Chen, P. W. Li, M. K. Chyu, F. J. Cunha , W. A. Messa, "Heat Transfer in an Airfoil Trailing Edge Configuration with Shaped Pedestals Mounted Internal Cooling Channel and Pressure Side Cutback", 2006 ASME Turbo Expo, Spain, May 8-11.
•	S. P. Chen, P. W. Li, M. K. Chyu, "Optimization of Gas Delivery and current Collecting System in Fuel Cells", Proceedings of Fuel Cell 2006, 4th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, June 19-21, 2006, Irvine, California, FUELCELL2006-97063.
•	P. W. Li, L. A. Schaefer, M. K. Chyu, 2005, "Optimization of Heat/Mass Transfer and Electric Charge Conduction in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells," 5th International Symposium on Multiphase Flow, Heat Mass Transfer and Energy Conversion, Xi'an, China, July 3-6, 2005, pp. 254-260.
•	P. W. Li, S. P. Chen and M. K. Chyu, "A Novel Approach for Distribution of Reacting Gases with Enhanced Mass Transfer in Fuel Cells," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2004-59329, November 13-19, 2004, Anaheim, California.
•	P. W. Li, U. Uysal, M. K. Chyu, "Mass Transfer Enhancement for Improving the Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells," ASME Heat Transfer & Fluids Engineering Summer Conference, 2004, HT-FED2004-56217.
•	P. W. Li, S. P. Chen and M. K. Chyu, "New Conceptual Gas Distributor with Mass Transfer Enhancing Function in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells," Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, 2004, Edited by R.K. Shah and S.G. Kandlikar, The 2nd International Conference, Rochester, NY, June 14-15, 2004, FUELCELL2004-2521, pp. 561-565.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, and M. K. Chyu, "The Energy Budget in Tubular and Planar Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Studied through Numerical Simulation," International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition 2003, (IMECE2003-42426), Nov. 16-21, 2003, Washington, D.C.
•	P.W. Li, Laura Schaefer and M. K. Chyu, "Interdigitated 3-D Model of Heat/Mass Transfer and Chemical/Electrochemical Reactions in a Planar Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," ASME Heat Transfer Summer Conference, July 21-23, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2003, HT2003-47436.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer and M. K. Chyu, "Investigation of the Energy Budget in an Internal Reforming Tubular Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cell through Numerical Computation," 2003 International Joint Power Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, IJPGC2003-40126, June 16-19, 2003.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, Q. M. Wang and M. K. Chyu, "Computation of the Conjugating Heat Transfer of Fuel and Oxidant Separated by a Heat-generating Cell Tube in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition 2002, New Orleans, LAUSA, November 17-22, 2002. ( IMECE2002-32564).
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer, Q. M. Wang, T. Zhang and M. K. Chyu, "Multi-gas Transportation and Electrochemical Performance in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Complicated Flow Channels," First International Symposium on Thermal Science and Technology, (TSE 2002), pp. G438-G449, Oct. 23-26, 2002, Beijing, China.
•	P. W. Li, L. Schaefer and M. K. Chyu, "Three-Dimensional Model for the Conjugate Processes of Heat and Gas Species Transportation in a Flat Plate Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," International Symposium of Transport Phenomenon, Bali, Indonesia, June 6-9, pp.305-312, 2003.
•	Yixin Lu, Laura Schaefer, Peiwen Li, 2004, "Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow of a Flate-Tube Higher Power Density Solid Oxide Fuel Cell," Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, 2004, Edited by R.K. Shah and S.G. Kandlikar, The 2nd International Conference, Rochester, NY, June 14-15, 2004, FUELCELL2004-2521, pp. 369-374.
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