Biography

Frano Barbir is Professor Emeritus at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB), University of Split, Croatia, where he continues to work as a Project Activity Leader on several R&D projects, including the STIM-REI project with the Center of Excellence for Science and Technology – Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM).

Prof. Barbir holds a Dipl.-Ing. degree in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc. degree in chemical engineering both from University of Zagreb, Croatia, and a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.

He has been actively involved in hydrogen and fuel cell technology R&D, engineering and applications since 1989, working as a researcher and R&D manager in both industry and universities, first in United States and then in Croatia.

His research interests include heat and mass transfer in PEM fuel cells, effects of operational conditions on fuel cell performance and durability, design of fuel cells and fuel cell stacks and systems, fuel cell applications, and hydrogen energy concept and its role in context of energy future. He has authored and/or co-authored more than 200 papers on hydrogen and fuel cells published in scientific and technical journals, books, encyclopedias, and conference proceedings, as well as 7 U.S. and one EU patent on various aspects fuel cell stack and system design and operation. His book, PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practice, published by Elsevier/Academic Press in 2005 (2nd edition came out in 2013), has been translated to Chinese, Korean and Farsi, and it is being used as a textbook at many universities all over the world.

He is the founding President of Croatian Hydrogen Association, and an Executive Vice President of the International Association of Hydrogen Energy. He is a member of the Croatian Academy of Technical Sciences, and a recipient of Croatian National Science Award for lifetime achievement in technical sciences.