Francesco Toja
PhD thesis title: Local experimental and modelling analysis of transport phenomena in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Academic Tutor: Andrea Casalegno
Academic Supervisor: Matteo Zago
PhD cycle: 37° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Energy Engineering - Power Generation, Politecnico di Milano
Thesis abstract
Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is a very promising candidate as energy storage technology for renewable power plants. However, its commercialization is hindered by different drawbacks related with the transport phenomena that take place in the cell. The aim of my PhD project is to comprehend the issues connected to these in-plane and through-plane transport phenomena and to conceive mitigation strategies by designing innovative components.
Personal interest in my research theme
The study of the transport phenomena in VRFB is performed through an experimental activity combined with a modelling one. The different nature of the complex phenomena that take place in the device requires me to have a holistic approach. This turns in the necessity to enlarge my modelling skills, that range from the simulation of the electrochemical phenomena to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Having a direct response of the effectivity of my strategies is one of the best parts of my work, as I can experimentally prove the intuitions coming from the modelling activity.