A €2.94-million challenge coordinated by SINTEF seeks to develop and reveal a proton change membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stack with elevated efficiency, decreased CAPEX, and elevated sustainability in comparison with present PEM electrolyszer methods.
Taking part with SINTEF within the UNICORN (“Unlocking the Full Potential of Electrolysis with Subsequent-Technology Proton Change Membrane Stacks”) are Hystar (business accomplice, Norway), Alleima (business accomplice, Sweden), Analysis Institutes of Sweden (RISE) (analysis group, Sweden), Ionomr Improvements Inc. (business accomplice, Canada), The French Corrosion Institute (analysis group, France), College of Montpellier/CNRS (tutorial institute, France).
Within the PEMWE (PEM Water Electrolysis) course of, water is transformed into oxygen fuel and protons on the anode aspect of the membrane. These protons transfer throughout the membrane to the cathode aspect the place they react with electrons to provide hydrogen fuel. This hydrogen can then be transported in pipelines, saved in tanks, and utilized in business or transport. Determine: SINTEF
On this challenge, a 40 kW stack that comprises novel, past state-of-the-art elements will likely be constructed and examined throughout 2000 hours of operation.
The challenge goals to exchange costly platinum group steel (PGM)-coated titanium bipolar plates (BPPs) with low-cost coated stainless-steel; cut back the quantity of iridium used within the catalyst layer to half of the present industrial normal; and remove the usage of hazardous fluorinated compounds, particularly perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based supplies, within the membrane and catalyst layers.
The improvements will likely be examined initially on a lab-scale earlier than upscaling with the assistance of the challenge’s industrial companions.
The challenge is about to start 1 November 2023 and can run for 3 years.
Background. There are two major forms of electrolysis in use as we speak: alkaline, and PEM (Proton Change Membrane). In comparison with conventional alkaline electrolysis, PEM electrolyzers have greater efficiency, and may reply to fast modifications in energy provide, making them fitted to coupling with renewable vitality sources, based on SINTEF.
Nevertheless, the key shortcoming of PEMWE is that it wants costly and uncommon supplies to beat the cruel working surroundings whereas producing prime quality gases in a secure means.
At the moment’s industrial PEMWE methods all depend on supplies that result in a excessive price of the electrolyzer and have been recognized as essential uncooked supplies, or supplies with sustainability/environmental issues. These supplies are noble steel catalysts and protecting coatings, titanium-based bipolar plates, and perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based membranes.
Within the challenge’s electrolyzer stacks, the essential uncooked materials titanium is changed with stainless-steel, and the iridium loading is decreased by 50%. As well as, changing fluorinated membranes will enhance the sustainability, offering extra environmental pleasant hydrogen manufacturing, at a considerably decreased price.