Tag Archives: Fuel Cells

Development of a Highly Efficient COx-Free Ammonia Dehydrogenation System for Fuel Cell Applications

Young Suk Jo1*, Junyoung Cha1,2, Hyuntae Sohn1, Suk Woo Nam1,2 and Chang Won Yoon1,3; [1] Fuel Cell Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), South Korea, [2] Green School, Korea University, South Korea, [3] Kyunghee University, South Korea

15th Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, October 31, 2018
NH3 Energy+ Topical Conference at the AIChE Annual Meeting

ABSTRACT

The shortage of fossil fuels and emission of carbon dioxide to the environment have attracted an interest in discovering renewable energy as the next generation energy source. Owing to its intermittent and unpredictable nature, however, excess renewable energy needs to be stored and reused on demand. In the regard, hydrogen, which possesses a high gravimetric energy density and carbon free combustion process, has been extensively researched as a promising renewable energy carrier. However, the distribution and storage of hydrogen still raise important challenges due to the low volumetric energy density of hydrogen for its wide utilization. Currently, gaseous hydrogen transportation by pipeline and batch transportation using liquefied/compressed hydrogen have been implemented, but are either not economically viable, particularly for long distance transport, or significantly energy-intensive. Therefore, a lot of attention recently has been paid to the liquid chemical hydrogen storage materials such as liquid ammonia, cycloalkanes and heterocycles, formic acid, and so forth.

Among the candidates, liquid ammonia is an excellent hydrogen carrier owing to its high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen storage capacities and moderate condensation conditions compared to other chemical hydrogen storage materials. Furthermore, the production and distribution activities of ammonia are already well-established processes internationally. The liquid ammonia can be dehydrogenated at the temperatures of ≤ 550 °C leading to hydrogen and nitrogen as major products with no carbon release to the environment. All these properties make liquid ammonia highly intriguing as a hydrogen carrier for power generation in conjunction with fuel cells.

The present study demonstrates a > 1kW-class COx-free power generation system including an ammonia feed, a dehydrogenation reactor, a i-butane burner, a heat exchanger, a hydrogen purification unit and a PEMFC. Continue reading

Ammonia As a Hydrogen Carrier for PEM Fuel Cells

Yoshitsugu Kojima, Hiroshima University, Japan

15th Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, October 31, 2018
NH3 Energy+ Topical Conference at the AIChE Annual Meeting

ABSTRACT

Ammonia (NH3) is easily liquefied by compression at 1 MPa and 25°C, and has highest volumetric hydrogen density of 10.7 kg H2 /100L. It has high gravimetric hydrogen density of 17.8 wt%. The heat of formation of NH3 is about 1/10 of combustion heat of hydrogen. NH3 has advantages as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

ISO 14687-2:2012 specifies the quality characteristics of hydrogen fuel. The maximum concentration of NH3 and N2 for the FCVs is 0.1ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. The minimum H2 purity is 99.97%. We need component technologies to produce high-purity hydrogen from ammonia, together with those to improve hydrogen energy efficiency. Continue reading

Direct Ammonia Fuel Cell Utilizing an OH- Ion Conducting Membrane Electrolyte

Yushan Yan1, Shimshon Gottesfeld1,2*
[1] University of Delaware; and [2] FC Consulting Ltd, United States

NH3 Fuel Conference, Minneapolis, November 1, 2017
AIChE Annual Meeting, Topical Conference: NH3 Energy+

ABSTRACT

We describe the techno-economic background and the R&D work scheduled for the ARPA-E project “Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells (DAFCs) for Transportation Applications,” which is about to start under the REFUEL program. The project is led by Shimshon Gottesfeld & Yushan Yan, University of Delaware, Jia Wang & Radoslav Adzic, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Chulsung Bae, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Bamdad Bahar, Xergy Inc. The multidisciplinary R&D work scheduled will cover the fields of advanced membrane and electrocatalyst development, MEA development and fabrication, and stack engineering. The latter two activities will be supported by work at POCellTech, with Miles Page as lead.

The Project Vision is creation of a high power density, direct ammonia fuel cell suitable for transportation applications, using a hydroxide exchange membrane electrolyte and operating the cell near 100°C. A practical ammonia fuel cell should enable use of the lowest cost, carbon-neutral liquid fuel for clean, long-range transportation. Continue reading

Development of Materials and Systems for Ammonia-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Koichi Eguchi1*, Yosuke Takahashi2, Hayahide Yamasaki3, Hidehito Kubo4, Akihiro Okabe5, Takenori Isomura6, Takahiro Matsuo7
[1] Kyoto University; [2] Noritake; [3] Nippon Shokubai; [4] Toyota Industries; [5] Mitsui Chemicals; [6] Tokuyama; and [7] IHI Corporation, Japan

NH3 Fuel Conference, Minneapolis, November 1, 2017
AIChE Annual Meeting, Topical Conference: NH3 Energy+

ABSTRACT

Hydrogen is the primary fuel source for fuel cells. However, the low volume density and difficulty in storage and transportation are major obstacles for the practical utilization. On-site generation of hydrogen from its carrier is an effective method for the fuel supply. Among various hydrogen carriers, ammonia is one of the promising candidates. Ammonia has high hydrogen density. The boiling point of ammonia is relatively high, leading to the ease in liquefaction and transportation. Hydrogen can be produced from ammonia with a mildly endothermic process. The reaction temperature of ammonia cracking is about 600˚C or higher which is close to the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The integration of these two devices is beneficial in terms of heat and energy managements and will lead to the development of simplified power generation systems. In this presentation, three types of ammonia-fueled SOFC systems have been investigated. Continue reading

Research and Development of Ammonia-fueled SOFC Systems

Koichi Eguchi1*, Atthapon Srifa1, Takeou Okanishi1, Hiroki Muroyama1, Toshiaki Matsui1, Masashi Kishimoto1, Motohiro Saito1, Hiroshi Iwai1, Hideo Yoshida1, Masaki Saito2, Takeshi Koide2, Hiroyuki Iwai2, Shinsuke Suzuki2, Yosuke Takahashi2, Toshitaka Horiuchi3, Hayahide Yamasaki3, Shohei Matsumoto4, Shuji Yumoto4, Hidehito Kubo4, Jun Kawahara5, Akihiro Okabe5, Yuki Kikkawa6, Takenori Isomura6
1 Kyoto University; 2 Noritake; 3 Nippon Shokubai; 4 Toyota Industries; 5 Mitsui Chemical; 6 Tokuyama, Japan

NH3 Fuel Conference, Los Angeles, September 19, 2016

ABSTRACT

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier because of its high hydrogen density, low production cost, and ease in liquefaction and transport. Ammonia decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen through a mildly endothermic process. The ammonia decomposition temperature is close to the operating conditions of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Therefore, the integration of these two devices is beneficial in terms of efficient heat and energy managements and will lead to the development of simplified generation systems. Continue reading

Applications of hydrogen permeable membranes in ammonia synthesis and decomposition

Sean-Thomas B. Lundin*, Thomas F. Fuerst, Jason C. Ganley, Colin A. Wolden, J. Douglas Way
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, USA

NH3 Fuel Conference, Los Angeles, September 19, 2016

ABSTRACT

It is well known that ammonia is being considered as a method of storing hydrogen. Although some fuel cells are being developed that can use ammonia directly as a fuel source, many fuel cell technologies still require an outside cracker to revert ammonia back into hydrogen for efficient use. In this regard, hydrogen permeable membranes, such as Pd and its alloys, have been targeted as potential membrane reactors in which the ammonia is cracked while the hydrogen is simultaneously separated. Pd and its alloys are expensive, but offer potentially perfect hydrogen purity that is highly preferable for certain fuel cells susceptible to ammonia poisoning. Yet, cheaper metals, such as V, Nb and Ta, may offer a more affordable alternative while maintaining perfect hydrogen selectivity. The first part of this talk will involve our work on ammonia decomposition using both Pd-based membranes and the cheaper V, Ta or Nb metals. Continue reading

Ammonia Fuel Cell and Fuel Synthesis Using Protonic Ceramics

Chuancheng Duan, Jinahua Tong, Jason Ganley*, Ryan O’Hayre
Colorado School of Mines, USA

NH3 Fuel Conference, Los Angeles, September 19, 2016

ABSTRACT

Proton-conducting ceramics synthesized with solid-state reactive sintering are employed as electrolytes for the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen gases in electrolytic cells. Additionally, these cells function with excellent long-term stability and high efficiency when operated in galvanic (fuel cell) mode using ammonia fuel. Advances in electrolyte compositions and synthesis techniques are discussed alongside cell performance metrics. Continue reading

Cracking ammonia

Bill David*1,2, Josh Makepeace2, Hazel Hunter1 and Tom Wood1
1ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK
2Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK

13th Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, September 19, 2016

ABSTRACT

In this talk, I will discuss our latest research in developing novel ammonia cracking catalysts. While ammonia can be used directly as a fuel in high temperature fuel cells, internal combustion engines and gas turbine, the ability to crack ammonia affordably and effectively increases the range of possibilities for utilising ammonia as an energy vector. Continue reading

Ammonia for Energy Storage and Delivery

KEYNOTE SPEECH 2016

Grigorii L. Soloveichik
U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, Washington, DC

13th Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, September 19, 2016

ABSTRACT

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) funds high risk, high reward transformational research to reduce energy related emissions, reduce imports of energy from foreign sources, improve energy efficiency across all economic sectors, and ensure US technological lead in advanced energy technologies, including electrochemical energy storage and transformation for grid scale and automotive applications.
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Using Renewable Energy to Produce NH3

Geoff Budd
ITM Power, inc

11th Annual NH3 Fuel Conference, September 23, 2014 Continue reading