France
Evaluation of the Performance Degradation of a Metal Hydride Tank in a Real Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
May 2022
Publication
In a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powered by a metal hydride tank the performance of the tank is an indicator of the overall health status which is used to predict its behaviour and make appropriate energy management decisions. The aim of this paper is to investigate how to evaluate the effects of charge/discharge cycles on the performance of a commercial automotive metal hydride hydrogen storage system applied to a real FCEV. For this purpose a mathematical model is proposed based on uncertain physical parameters that are identified using the stochastic particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm combined with experimental measurements. The variation of these parameters allows an assessment of the degradation level of the tank’s performance on both the quantitative and qualitative aspects. Simulated results derived from the proposed model and experimental measurements were in good agreement with a maximum relative error of less than 2%. The validated model was used to establish the correlations between the observed degradations in a hydride tank recovered from a real FCEV. The results obtained show that it is possible to predict tank degradations by developing laws of variation of these parameters as a function of the real conditions of the use of the FCEV (number of charging/discharging cycles pressures mass flow rates temperatures).
Magnesium Based Materials for Hydrogen Based Energy Storage: Past, Present and Future
Jan 2019
Publication
Volodymyr A. Yartys,
Mykhaylo V. Lototskyy,
Etsuo Akiba,
Rene Albert,
V. E. Antonov,
Jose-Ramón Ares,
Marcello Baricco,
Natacha Bourgeois,
Craig Buckley,
José Bellosta von Colbe,
Jean-Claude Crivello,
Fermin Cuevas,
Roman V. Denys,
Martin Dornheim,
Michael Felderhoff,
David M. Grant,
Bjørn Christian Hauback,
Terry D. Humphries,
Isaac Jacob,
Petra E. de Jongh,
Jean-Marc Joubert,
Mikhail A. Kuzovnikov,
Michel Latroche,
Mark Paskevicius,
Luca Pasquini,
L. Popilevsky,
Vladimir M. Skripnyuk,
Eugene I. Rabkin,
M. Veronica Sofianos,
Alastair D. Stuart,
Gavin Walker,
Hui Wang,
Colin Webb,
Min Zhu and
Torben R. Jensen
Magnesium hydride owns the largest share of publications on solid materials for hydrogen storage. The “Magnesium group” of international experts contributing to IEA Task 32 “Hydrogen Based Energy Storage” recently published two review papers presenting the activities of the group focused on magnesium hydride based materials and on Mg based compounds for hydrogen and energy storage. This review article not only overviews the latest activities on both fundamental aspects of Mg-based hydrides and their applications but also presents a historic overview on the topic and outlines projected future developments. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical and experimental studies of Mg-H system at extreme pressures kinetics and thermodynamics of the systems based on MgH2 nanostructuring new Mg-based compounds and novel composites and catalysis in the Mg based H storage systems. Finally thermal energy storage and upscaled H storage systems accommodating MgH2 are presented.
Test Campaign on Existing HRS & Dissemination of Results
Apr 2019
Publication
This document is the final deliverable of Tasks 2 & 3 of the tender N° FCH / OP / CONTRACT 196: “Development of a Metering Protocol for Hydrogen Refuelling Stations”. In Task 2 a test campaign was organized on several HRS in Europe to apply the testing protocol defined in Task 1. This protocol requires mainly to perform different accuracy tests in order to determine the error of the complete measuring system (i.e. from the mass flow meter to the nozzle) in real fueling conditions. Seven HRS have been selected to fulfill the requirements specified in the tender. Tests results obtained are presented in this deliverable and conclusions are proposed to explain the errors observed. In the frame of Task 3 results and conclusions have been widely presented to additional Metrology Institutes than those involved in Task 1 in order to get their adhesion on the testing proposed protocol. All the work performed in Tasks 2 & 3 and associated outcomes / conclusions are reported here.
Towards Ecological Alternatives in Bearing Lubrication
Jun 2021
Publication
Hydrogen is the cleanest fuel available because its combustion product is water. The internal combustion engine can in principle and without significant modifications run on hydrogen to produce mechanical energy. Regarding the technological solution leading to compact engines a question to ask is the following: Can combustion engine systems be lubricated with hydrogen? In general since many applications such as in turbomachines is it possible to use the surrounding gas as a lubricant? In this paper journal bearings global parameters are calculated and compared for steady state and dynamic conditions for different gas constituents such as air pentafluoropropane helium and hydrogen. Such a bearing may be promising as an ecological alternative to liquid lubrication.
Characterization of the Inducible and Slow-Releasing Hydrogen Sulfide and Persulfide Donor P*: Insights into Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling
Jun 2021
Publication
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important mediator of inflammatory processes. However controversial findings also exist and its underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Recently the byproducts of H2S per-/polysulfides emerged as biological mediators themselves highlighting the complex chemistry of H2S. In this study we characterized the biological effects of P* a slow-releasing H2S and persulfide donor. To differentiate between H2S and polysulfide-derived effects we decomposed P* into polysulfides. P* was further compared to the commonly used fast-releasing H2S donor sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS). The effects on oxidative stress and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression were assessed in ATDC5 cells using superoxide measurement qPCR ELISA and Western blotting. The findings on IL-6 expression were corroborated in primary chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients. In ATDC5 cells P* not only induced the expression of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 via per-/polysulfides but also induced activation of Akt and p38 MAPK. NaHS and P* significantly impaired menadione-induced superoxide production. P* reduced IL-6 levels in both ATDC5 cells and primary chondrocytes dependent on H2Srelease. Taken together P* provides a valuable research tool for the investigation of H2S and per-/polysulfide signalling. These data demonstrate the importance of not only H2S but also per-/polysulfides as bioactive signaling molecules with potent anti-inflammatory and in particular antioxidant properties.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Road Vehicles and Their Infrastructure: An Option Towards an Environmentally Friendly Energy Transition
Nov 2020
Publication
The latest pre-production vehicles on the market show that the major technical challenges posed by integrating a fuel cell system (FCS) within a vehicle—compactness safety autonomy reliability cold starting—have been met. Regarding the ongoing maturity of fuel cell systems dedicated to road transport the present article examines the advances still needed to move from a functional but niche product to a mainstream consumer product. It seeks to address difficulties not covered by more traditional innovation approaches. At least in long-distance heavy-duty vehicles fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are going to play a key role in the path to zero-emissions in one or two decades. Hence the present study also addresses the structuring elements of the complete chain: the latter includes the production storage and distribution of hydrogen. Green hydrogen appears to be one of the potential uses of renewable energies. The greener the electricity is the greater the advantage for hydrogen since it permits to economically store large energy quantities on seasonal rhythms. Moreover natural hydrogen might also become an economic reality pushing the fuel cell vehicle to be a competitive and environmentally friendly alternative to the battery electric vehicle. Based on its own functional benefits for on board systems hydrogen in combination with the fuel cell will achieve a large-scale use of hydrogen in road transport as soon as renewable energies become more widespread. Its market will expand from large driving range and heavy load vehicles
Improved Hydrogen-Production-Based Power Management Control of a Wind Turbine Conversion System Coupled with Multistack Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers
Mar 2020
Publication
This paper deals with two main issues regarding the specific energy consumption in an electrolyzer (i.e. the Faraday efficiency and the converter topology). The first aspect is addressed using a multistack configuration of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers supplied by a wind turbine conversion system (WTCS). This approach is based on the modeling of the wind turbine and the electrolyzers. The WTCS and the electrolyzers are interfaced through a stacked interleaved DC–DC buck converter (SIBC) due to its benefits for this application in terms of the output current ripple and reliability. This converter is controlled so that it can offer dynamic behavior that is faster than the wind turbine avoiding overvoltage during transients which could damage the PEM electrolyzers. The SIBC is designed to be connected in array configuration (i.e. parallel architecture) so that each converter operates at its maximum efficiency. To assess the performance of the power management strategy experimental tests were carried out. The reported results demonstrate the correct behavior of the system during transient operation.
Some Issues Concerning the CFD Modelling of Confined Hydrogen Releases
Sep 2017
Publication
In SUSANA E.U. project a rather broad CFD benchmarking exercise was performed encompassing a number of CFD codes a diversity of turbulence models... It is concluded that the global agreement is good. But in this particular situation the experimental data to compare with were known to the modelers. In performing this exercise the present authors explored the influence of some modelling choices which may have a significant impact on the results (apart from the traditional convergence testing and mass conservation) especially in the situation where little relevant data are available. The configuration investigated is geometrically simple: a vertical round hydrogen jet in a square box. Nevertheless modelling aspects like the representation of the source and of the boundary conditions have a rather strong influence on the final results as illustrated in this communication. In other words the difficulties may not be so much in the intrinsic capabilities of the code (which SUSANA tends to show) but more in the physical representation the modelers have. Even in the specific situation addressed in this communication although looking simple it may not be so obvious to grasp correctly the leading physical processes.
Prospecting Stress Formed by Hydrogen or Isotope Diffused in Palladium Alloy Cathode
Oct 2018
Publication
The objective of this project is to take into account the mechanical constraints formed by diffusion of hydrogen or tritium in watertight palladium alloy cathode. To know the origin of these it was necessary to discriminating the damaging effects encountered. Effectively hydrogen and isotope induce deformation embrittlement stress corrosion cracking and cathodic corrosion in different regions of cathode. Palladium can be alloyed with silver or yttrium to favourably increase diffusion and reduce these constraints. Effects of electrochemical factors temperature cathode structure adsorbed transient complex of palladium and porous material support are given to estimate and to limit possible damage.
Blind-prediction: Estimating the Consequences of Vented Hydrogen Deflagrations for Homogeneous Mixtures in a 20-foot ISO Container
Sep 2017
Publication
Trygve Skjold,
Helene Hisken,
Sunil Lakshmipathy,
Gordon Atanga,
Marco Carcassi,
Martino Schiavetti,
James R. Stewart,
A. Newton,
James R. Hoyes,
Ilias C. Tolias,
Alexandros G. Venetsanos,
Olav Roald Hansen,
J. Geng,
Asmund Huser,
Sjur Helland,
Romain Jambut,
Ke Ren,
Alexei Kotchourko,
Thomas Jordan,
Jérome Daubech,
Guillaume Lecocq,
Arve Grønsund Hanssen,
Chenthil Kumar,
Laurent Krumenacker,
Simon Jallais,
D. Miller and
Carl Regis Bauwens
This paper summarises the results from a blind-prediction study for models developed for estimating the consequences of vented hydrogen deflagrations. The work is part of the project Improving hydrogen safety for energy applications through pre-normative research on vented deflagrations (HySEA). The scenarios selected for the blind-prediction entailed vented explosions with homogeneous hydrogen-air mixtures in a 20-foot ISO container. The test program included two configurations and six experiments i.e. three repeated tests for each scenario. The comparison between experimental results and model predictions reveals reasonable agreement for some of the models and significant discrepancies for others. It is foreseen that the first blind-prediction study in the HySEA project will motivate developers to improve their models and to update guidelines for users of the models.
Energy Transition in France
May 2022
Publication
To address the climate emergency France is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It plans to significantly increase the contribution of renewable energy in its energy mix. The share of renewable energy in its electricity production which amounts to 25.5% in 2020 should reach at least 40% in 2030. This growth poses several new challenges that require policy makers and regulators to act on the technological changes and expanding need for flexibility in power systems. This document presents the main strategies and projects developed in France as well as various recommendations to accompany and support its energy transition policy.
Results of the Pre-normative Research Project PRESLHY for the Safe Use of Liquid Hydrogen
Sep 2021
Publication
Liquid hydrogen (LH2) compared to compressed gaseous hydrogen offers advantages for large-scale transport and storage of hydrogen with higher densities. Although the gas industry has good experience with LH2 only little experience is available for the new applications of LH2 as an energy carrier. Therefore the European FCH JU funded project PRESLHY conducted pre-normative research for the safe use of cryogenic LH2 in non-industrial settings. The central research consisted of a broad experimental program combined with analytical work modelling and simulations belonging to the three key phenomena of the accident chain: release and mixing ignition and combustion. The presented results improve the general understanding of the behavior of LH2 in accidents and provide some design guidelines and engineering tools for safer use of LH2. Recommendations for improvement of current international standards are derived.
Market Segmentation of Domestic and Commercial Natural Gas Appliances
Jan 2021
Publication
The main goal of the project is to enable the wide adoption of H2NG (hydrogen in natural gas) blends by closing knowledge gaps regarding technical impacts on residential and commercial gas appliances. The project consortium will identify and recommend appropriate codes and standards that should be adapted to answer the needs and develop a strategy for addressing the challenges for new and existing appliances.<br/>This deliverable on market segmentation is part of work package 2 and provides a quantitative segmentation of the gas appliance market in terms of appliance population numbers. It therefore prepares the project partners to perform the subsequent selection of the most representative product types to be tested in the laboratories of the THyGA partners.<br/>The classification is developed to categorise appliances installed in the field based on available statistics calculation methods and estimations. As a result appliance populations are provided for each technology segment that draw a representative picture of the installed end-use appliances within the European Union in 2020.
Optimized EMS and a Comparative Study of Hybrid Hydrogen Fuel Cell/Battery Vehicles
Jan 2022
Publication
This paper presents a new Fuel Cell Fuel Consumption Minimization Strategy (FCFCMS) for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) powered by a fuel cell and an energy storage system in order to minimize as much as possible the consumption of hydrogen while maintaining the State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery. Compared to existing Energy Management Strategies (EMSs) (such as the well-known State Machine Strategy (SMC) Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) Frequency Decoupling and FLC (FDFLC) and the Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS)) the proposed strategy increases the overall vehicle energy efficiency and therefore minimizes the total hydrogen consumption while respecting the constraints of each energy and power element. A model of a hybrid vehicle has been built using the TruckMaker/MATLAB software. Using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) which includes several stops and accelerations the performance of the proposed strategy has been compared with these different approaches (SMC FLC FDFLC and ECMS) through several simulations.
Spin Pinning Effect to Reconstructed Oxyhydroxide Layer on Ferromagnetic Oxides for Enhanced Water Oxidation
Jun 2021
Publication
Producing hydrogen by water electrolysis suffers from the kinetic barriers in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that limits the overall efficiency. With spin-dependent kinetics in OER to manipulate the spin ordering of ferromagnetic OER catalysts (e.g. by magnetization) can reduce the kinetic barrier. However most active OER catalysts are not ferromagnetic which makes the spin manipulation challenging. In this work we report a strategy with spin pinning effect to make the spins in paramagnetic oxyhydroxides more aligned for higher intrinsic OER activity. The spin pinning effect is established in oxideFM/oxyhydroxide interface which is realized by a controlled surface reconstruction of ferromagnetic oxides. Under spin pinning simple magnetization further increases the spin alignment and thus the OER activity which validates the spin effect in rate-limiting OER step. The spin polarization in OER highly relies on oxyl radicals (O∙) created by 1st dehydrogenation to reduce the barrier for subsequent O-O coupling.
An Inter-comparison Exercise on Engineering Models Capabilities to Simulate Hydrogen Vented Explosions
Sep 2013
Publication
A benchmark exercise on vented explosion engineering model was carried out against the maximum overpressures (one or two peaks) of published experiments. The models evaluated are Bauwens et al. (2012-1 and 2012-2) [4 7] models Molkov Vent Sizing Technology 1999 2001 and 2008 models [12 13 6]. The experiments in consideration are Pasman et al. experiments (1974) (30% H2 - 1m3) [1] Bauwens et al. (2012) experiments (64m3) [4] Daubech et al. (2011) experiments (10 to 30% H2 - 1 and 10 m3) [2] and Daubech et al. (2013) [5] experiments (4 m3 – H2 10 to 30%). On this basis recommendations and limits of use of these models are proposed.
Impact of Mechanical Ventilation on Build-up and Concentration Distribution Inside a 1-m3 Enclosure Considering Hydrogen Energy
Sep 2019
Publication
Natural ventilation is an efficient and well-known way to mitigate a hydrogen build-up in the case of an accidental release in confined enclosures. However for some hydrogen energy applications natural ventilation is not possible or is not efficient enough to reach defined safety strategy. Thus mechanical or forced ventilation can be interesting means to avoid critical concentration of hydrogen considering degraded operation and associated potential hazardous events. To better understand the impact of mechanical ventilation on the hydrogen build-up and distribution a dedicated study was led. First accidental release scenarios were experimentally simulated with helium in a 1-m3 enclosure. Several configurations of release and ventilation modes were tested and are presented in this study. Secondly analytical and numerical – Computational Fluid Dynamics – calculation approaches were applied and adjusted to propose a simplified methodology taking into account mechanical ventilation for assessment of hydrogen accumulation and for design optimization of the applications.
Morphological, Structural and Hydrogen Storage Properties of LaCrO3 Perovskite-Type Oxides
Feb 2022
Publication
Recently perovskite-type oxides have attracted researchers as new materials for solid hydrogen storage. This paper presents the performances of perovskite-type oxide LaCrO3 dedicated for hydrogen solid storage using both numerical and experimental methods. Ab initio calculations have been used here with the aim to investigate the electronic mechanical and elastic properties of LaCrO3Hx (x = 0 6) for hydrogen storage applications. Cell parameters crystal structures and mechanical properties are determined. Additionally the cohesive energy indicates the stability of the hydride. Furthermore the mechanical properties showed that both compounds (before and after hydrogenation) are stable. The microstructure and storage capacity at different temperatures of these compounds have been studied. We have shown that storage capacities are around 4 wt%. The properties obtained from this type of hydride showed that it can be used for future applications. XRD analysis was conducted in order to study the structural properties of the compound. Besides morphological thermogravimetric analysis was also conducted on the perovskite-type oxide. Finally a comparison of these materials with other hydrides used for hydrogen storage was carried out.
Energy integration – The Covid-19 Crisis and Clean Energy Progress – Analysis Report
Jun 2020
Publication
The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a massive blow to countries around the world choking economies and transforming daily life for billions of people. This extraordinary disruption has significantly impacted the energy sector with worrying implications for clean energy transitions. Some key clean energy technologies have been encouragingly resilient to the effects of the crisis but so far there is little to suggest that the dramatic structural progress needed to achieve long-term climate and energy goals will happen in the current turmoil. Unprecedented action and leadership from governments companies and other real-world decision makers will be required to put the world more firmly on a sustainable long-term pathway. The energy sector must achieve dramatic sustained emissions reductions through policy investment and innovation measures across all energy sectors and technologies.
Building on Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2020 and other COVID-19 analysis this article takes stock of how the crisis has affected energy sectors and technologies thus far and explores the potential implications for clean energy transitions over the medium and longer term.
Link to Document on IEA Website
Building on Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2020 and other COVID-19 analysis this article takes stock of how the crisis has affected energy sectors and technologies thus far and explores the potential implications for clean energy transitions over the medium and longer term.
Link to Document on IEA Website
Role of Hydrogen-Charging on Nucleation and Growth of Ductile Damage in Austenitic Stainless Steels
May 2019
Publication
Hydrogen energy is a possible solution for storage in the future. The resistance of packaging materials such as stainless steels has to be guaranteed for a possible use of these materials as containers for highly pressurized hydrogen. The effect of hydrogen charging on the nucleation and growth of microdamage in two different austenitic stainless steels AISI316 and AISI316L was studied using in situ tensile tests in synchrotron X-ray tomography. Information about damage nucleation void growth and void shape were obtained. AISI316 was found to be more sensitive to hydrogen compared to AISI316L in terms of ductility loss. It was measured that void nucleation and growth are not affected by hydrogen charging. The effect of hydrogen was however found to change the morphology of nucleated voids from spherical cavities to micro-cracks being oriented perpendicular to the tensile axis.
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