Dr Elisabetta Schettino
Theme
Chemical Energy ConvertersProject
Ammonia-fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Aircraft ApplicationsSupervisor(s)
Prof Chris Bowen, Dr Tom Fletcher, Prof Frank MarkenIndustry Partner
GKNElisabetta's Journey in AAPS: An Alumni Profile
Before joining AAPS, Elisabetta was completing an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her academic background includes several projects in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), such as designing a full car aerodynamic model, a heat exchanger for the production of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) optimized for minimal pressure drop, and simulating a 3 bar explosion on a Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO). Additionally, she was part of a team that built a Hydrogen-Fuelled vehicle to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM). As Head of Body-work and Safety Officer, this extracurricular activity expanded her knowledge and experience in Fuel Cell piping and electronics. The idea that every subject is welcome to tackle the environmental crisis from the point of view of the transport sector is what led her to join AAPS.
PhD Focus
Elisabetta's PhD project, titled "Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Materials for Aerospace Applications," was supervised by Chris Bowen, Tom Fletcher, and Frank Marken, with industrial partnership from GKN.
Her Ph.D. thesis explores the integration of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) into aviation propulsion systems, focusing on their potential to address sustainability challenges in the aviation sector. Manufacturing challenges of common SOFC materials are also addressed through a performance and energy consumption analysis.
Looking Forward
Since finishing her PhD, Elisabetta worked for a year as Operations Manager at Milvus Advanced, a company working on improving the environmental impact of water electrolysis from a materials perspective. She is currently looking for her next role.
The reflection on AAPS
For Elisabetta, AAPS is a space where curiosity is encouraged, supported by a robust system always ready to assist. She appreciated the inclusive approach in AAPS that welcomed various subjects to tackle the environmental crisis from the transport sector's perspective.
The highlight of Elisabetta's experience at AAPS has been the large network of like-minded individuals. While a PhD is often an individual endeavour, the supportive community ensured she never felt alone, allowing her to share both triumphs and challenges.
Elisabetta found her time at AAPS incredibly enriching, learning not just about her academic field but also about herself. She gained a wide array of transferable skills such as problem-solving, time management, and effective communication. These skills will be invaluable in her future endeavours, having equipped her to face challenges and make a positive impact in her career and beyond.
