Page 51 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2016 publication

Spring 2016 European Energy Innovation
Fuel cell systems and hydrogen
supply for early markets
INTRODUCTION
The European FP7 project Liquid Power
is coming to an end after 5 years of
developing a new generation of fuel
cell systems for back-up power markets
and for material handling vehicles,
as well as developing new innovative
hydrogen supply methods for onsite
methanol reforming.
The present report illustrates the
development of an integrated fuel
processor (FP) and pressure swing
adsorption (PSA) system for onsite
hydrogen production to fuel cell
systems. In this project, Catator is
responsible for the development and
delivery of the pressurized FP system.
ZBT is responsible for the development
and delivery of the PSA system
as well as for the integration and
evaluation of both FP and PSA systems.
Dantherm Power is responsible for
the development of fuel cell systems
for back-up power and for material
handling vehicles.
A new generation fuel cell system for
backup power has been developed in
the project.
The fuel cell system is constructed in
such a way that it is scalable in nominal party CE certification. The application
output power from 1.6kW to 5.0kW.
Also, the system can be modified with
an add-on Cold Climate Kit, which
enables the system to operate at very
low ambient temperatures (-40 degrees
Celsius).
ONSITE FUEL PROCESSOR SYSTEM
The fuel processor which has been
developed is based on a coil-concept,
where a steam reforming catalyst
is inserted into a helix shaped tube
(Optifomer design). The basic idea is to
minimize thermal stress on the steam
reformer section. The overall dimension
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51
COMMUNICATION
of the reactor is ca. diameter 312 x The FP system during verification tests
length 415 (mm) and its weight is ca.
50 kg, which makes it suitable for onsite Assembly of Pressure Swing Adsorption
fuel reforming. System (rights by Photograph: www.
eventfotograf.in / ©JRF e.V.)
PRESSURE SWING ADSORPTION
SYSTEM CONTACT DETAILS
On an industrial scale, state of the art Dantherm Power
pressure swing adsorption plants have Majsmarken 1, DK-9500 Hobro,
typical outputs of up to 100,000 m³/h Denmark
of pure hydrogen. Small to medium www.dantherm-power.com
hydrogen production plants in the
range of 10 m³/h commonly apply
alternative purification technologies,
which often lack in hydrogen purity or
have to employ very costly materials like
Palladium/Silver (Pd/Ag)-membranes.
To overcome these lacks is the target
within the LiquidPower project.
The main challenge for the
development of the PSA is the technical
and economic feasibility of the small
scale PSA in the context of pressurized
methanol reforming. The nominal
capacity is in a range of 10 m³/h (30
kW) pure hydrogen and the design
pressure is 12 bar, suitable for onsite
hydrogen production. The PSA contains
commercially available components,
and the system design makes it
capable of achieving a following third
of both the Machinery Directive and the
Pressure Equipment Directive specify a
clearly structured roadmap for a future
commercial launch of the PSA.
ONGOING WORK
The present work is focused on
commissioning and evaluating the
fuel processor and pressure swing
adsorption as an integrated system
as well as evaluating the new fuel
cell systems for back-up power and
material handling vehicles for the
markets. The final results are expected
to be available in the spring of 2016. l