I am currently pursuing my PhD in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. My research focuses on the experimental characterization of metallic bipolar plates used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). I am currently conducting ex-situ analyses, investigating the corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and thermal properties of these plates. As the research progresses, I plan to move on to in-situ analysis of a single PEMFC cell to assess its overall performance. Additionally, I aim to incorporate machine learning neural networks to predict the degradation behavior of metallic bipolar plates, using both ex-situ and in-situ characteristics to enhance the accuracy of these predictions and improve PEMFC performance assessment.
I completed my undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at Anna University, Chennai, India, during which I had the opportunity to attend a 3-month internship in Canada. I worked on the project titled “Airlift Pumps - Design and Manufacturing of Energy-Efficient Pumps for Sustainable Food Systems” at the University of Guelph, where I gained significant knowledge and developed an interest in pursuing a research career. As a result of this internship, I decided to pursue graduate studies in Canada and was accepted into the University of Waterloo for my master’s degree. I earned my MASc in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, focusing on the topic “FPGA-Based Ultrasound Non-Destructive Testing.” My role involved developing an FPGA-based system to capture and analyze the weld qualities of joints using ultrasound technology. During my master’s, I became fascinated by fuel cell technology, leading me to pursue in-depth knowledge in this field. Consequently, I began my PhD study on PEMFCs, which I am currently undertaking at the Fuel Cell and Green Energy Lab (FCGEL).
Projects at FCGEL:
- Modelling Anti-Corrosion Coating Performance of Metallic Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells: A Machine Learning Approach.
- Development of Niobium-based Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells.
- Anti-corrosion Surface Treatment of Metallic Bipolar Plates to Enable Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Electric Aviation Applications.
- Ex-situ and In-situ Characterizations of Coated Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.
Publications:
- Madhavan, P. V., Shahgaldi, S., & Li, X. (2024). Ex-situ Characterization of Nb-Ti Alloy/Pt Coated Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Energy Conversion and Management, 311, 118536.
- Madhavan, P. V., Shahgaldi, S., & Li, X. (2024). Modelling Anti-Corrosion Coating Performance of Metallic Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells: A Machine Learning Approach. Energy and AI, 17, 100391.
- Madhavan, P. V. (2022). FPGA Based Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing (master’s thesis, University of Waterloo).
Research profile:
Achievements:
1st prize 3MT competition: “Coated Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Ex-situ and In-situ Characterizations” at the World Fuel Cell Conference 2024 in Ningbo, China.
Mitacs Globalink Graduate Fellowship: Awarded CAD 15000 for one year (2021) during the MASc program at the University of Waterloo.