Publications
Thermal Management of Fuel Cells in Hydrogen-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Oct 2025
Publication
Hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer significant advantages such as environmental sustainability and extended endurance demonstrating broad application prospects. However the hydrogen fuel cells face prominent thermal management challenges during flight operations. This study established a numerical model of the fuel cell thermal management system (TMS) for a hydrogen-powered UAV. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were subsequently performed to investigate the impact of various design parameters on cooling performance. First the cooling performance of different fan density configurations was investigated. It was found that dispersed fan placement ensures substantial airflow through the peripheral flow channels significantly enhancing temperature uniformity. Specifically the nine-fan configuration achieves an 18.5% reduction in the temperature difference compared to the four-fan layout. Additionally inlets were integrated with the fan-based cooling system. While increased external airflow lowers the minimum fuel cell temperature its impact on high-temperature zones remains limited with a temperature difference increase of more than 19% compared to configurations without inlets. Furthermore the middle inlet exhibits minimal vortex interference delivering superior thermal performance. This configuration reduces the maximum temperature and average temperature by 9.1% and 22.2% compared to the back configuration.
Aromatic Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers for Hydrogen Storage and Release
Apr 2023
Publication
Hydrogen production from renewable energy sources has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of critical economic sectors that rely heavily on fossil fuels. Liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology has the capability to overcome the limitations associated with conventional hydrogen storage technologies. To date dibenzyltoluene and benzyltoluene are the benchmark LOHC molecules due to the unique hydrogen storage properties. However the reaction temperature for dehydrogenation reaction is high and catalysts need to be further developed so that efficient release of hydrogen can be realized. Exploration of various catalyst preparation methods such as supercritical carbon-dioxide deposition the selection on support material with relevant textural and chemical properties and optimization of catalyst modifiers are rewarding approaches of improving the catalyst performance. In addition to this the lowering of the dehydrogenation temperature by employing electrochemical methods and reactive distillation approaches are strategies that will make the LOHC technology competitive.
Betting vs. Trading: Learning a Linear Decision Policy for Selling Wind Power and Hydrogen
Jul 2025
Publication
We develop a bidding strategy for a hybrid power plant combining co-located wind turbines and an electrolyzer constructing a price-quantity bidding curve for the day-ahead electricity market while optimally scheduling hydrogen production. Without risk management single imbalance pricing leads to an all-or-nothing trading strategy which we term “betting”. To address this we propose a data-driven pragmatic approach that leverages contextual information to train linear decision policies for both power bidding and hydrogen scheduling. By introducing explicit risk constraints to limit imbalances we move from the all-or-nothing approach to a “trading” strategy where the plant diversifies its power trading decisions. We evaluate the model under three scenarios: when the plant is either conditionally allowed always allowed or not allowed to buy power from the grid which impacts the green certification of the hydrogen produced. Comparing our data-driven strategy with an oracle model that has perfect foresight we show that the risk-constrained data-driven approach delivers satisfactory performance.
Theoretical Thermal Management Concepts of Recovery Heat Waste in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System
Oct 2025
Publication
Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) system has potential to offer an efficient green hydrogen production technology. However the significant cost of this technology is related to the high operating temperatures materials and thermal management including the waste heat. Recovering the waste heat can be conducted through techniques to reduce the overall energy consumption. This approach aims to improve accuracy and efficiency by recovering and reusing the heat that would otherwise be lost. In this paper thermal energy models are proposed based on waste heat recovery methodologies to utilize the heat from outlet fluids within the SOEC system. The mathematical methods for calculating thermal energy and energy transfer in SOEC systems have involved the principles of heat transfer. To address this different simplified thermal models are developed in Simulink Matlab R2025b. The obtained results for estimating proper thermal energy for heating incoming fluids and recycled heat are discussed and compared to determine the efficient and potential thermal model for improvement the waste heat recovery.
Economic Study of Hybrid Power System Using Boil-off Hydrogen for Liquid Hydrogen Carriers
Mar 2024
Publication
This study presents a hybrid power system comprising a fuel cell (FC) and a lithium-ion battery (LIB) for liquid hydrogen (LH2) carriers which is expected to increase globally due to the production cost gap of green hydrogen between renewable-rich and renewable-poor countries. The LH2 carrier has a key challenge in handling the inevitably considerable boil-off hydrogen (BOH). As a target ship of a 50000 m3 LH2 carrier with a boil-off rate (BOR) of 0.4% per day this study employs an optimization tool to determine the economic power dispatch between the FC and LIB aimed at minimizing the lifetime cost of the ship. The BOH is used as fuel for FC during the voyage. Moreover when the ship is under cargo loading and unloading operations at the port the considerable surplus BOH is utilized to generate electricity and then sold to the shore grid (StG). The results indicate that 45.2% of the BOH can be utilized as fuel for the FC and the StG system can effectively reduce the total lifetime cost by 32.0%. Further the paper presents the outcomes of a sensitivity analysis conducted on critical parameters. This study provides new insights into the BOH issue of LH2 carriers and helps to increase the international green hydrogen market.
Experimental Evaluation of Ammonium Formate as a Potential Hydrogen Storage Option
Sep 2025
Publication
Electrochemical energy conversion systems are recognized as sustainable options for clean power generation. In conjunction with this the current hydrogen storage methods often suffer from limited storage density stability or high cost which motivate the search for alternative fuels with improved performance. This study is designed to investigate ammonium formate as an effective hydrogen storage medium and an efficient electrochemical fuel in electrochemical energy conversion systems. In order to perform the experimental tests stainless steel-stainless steel and aluminum-stainless steel electrode pairs are selected and examined under varying concentrations of potassium hydroxide sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide at 80 ◦C and the system responses are then evaluated through voltage–time monitoring and polarization curve analysis. The aluminum-stainless steel configuration achieves the highest performance under 0.1 M potassium hydroxide and 10 % hydrogen peroxide reaching the voltages near ~ 900 mV and current densities of ~ 340 mA cm− 2 ; and the sodium chloride systems produce up to ~ 820 mV and ~ 310 mA cm− 2 while higher additive levels result in decreasing the voltages below 500 mV due to losses and side reactions. These findings confirm that moderate additive concentrations and optimized electrode pairing significantly enhance efficiency positioning ammonium formate as a low-cost energy-dense fuel suitable for decentralized and portable applications.
Tempering-induced Modulation of Hydrogen Embrittlement in Additvely Manufactured AISI 4340 Steel
Sep 2025
Publication
Recent studies on additive manufacturing (AM) have indicated the necessity of understanding the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of high-strength steels fabricated by AM due to the different microstructure obtained compared to their conventionally processed counterparts. This study investigated the influence of post-AM tempering (at 205 ◦C 315 ◦C and 425 ◦C) on the HE resistance of AM-fabricated AISI 4340 steel a representative ultrahigh-strength medium-carbon low-alloy steel. The present results show that tempering effectively reduced the HE sensitivity of the steel. When tested in air tempering at a low temperature of 205 ◦C slightly increased both the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) accompanied by a reduction in elongation (EL). This behaviour is attributed to the precipitation of carbides. In contrast higher tempering temperatures of 315 ◦C and 425 ◦C resulted in a progressive decrease in both YS and UTS as anticipated. However when tested in a hydrogen-rich environment although the HE dramatically reduced the ductility and YS could not even be determined for the samples tempered at 205 ◦C and 315 ◦C the tempered samples retained higher UTS and EL compared to the as-AM-fabricated samples because of the increased HE resistance by tempering. Microstructural examination indicated that tempering at 205 ◦C and 315 ◦C retained the bainitic microstructure while promoting the formation of fine carbide precipitates which softened the bainitic ferrite matrix enhancing the hydrogen trapping capacity. Tempering at 425 ◦C promoted recovery of the AM-fabricated steel reducing dislocation density producing a lower subsurface hydrogen concentration and higher hydrogen diffusivity which led to an enhanced HE resistance. As a result testing of the samples tempered at 425 ◦C in hydrogen resulted in a high YS (~1200 MPa) and only a ~5 % reduction in UTS and a 64 % reduction in EL compared with the untempered samples of which the reductions were 31 % in UTS and 79 % in EL. Furthermore this study underscores the critical role of the trap character in governing the HE behaviour offering a pathway toward optimised heat treatment strategies for improved HE resistance of additively manufactured high-strength steels.
The German Scramble for Green Hydrogen in Namibia: Colonial Legacies Revisited?
Feb 2025
Publication
Namibia is positioning itself as a green hydrogen superpower to supply the German market with the muchneeded energy carrier. While the hydrogen hype is marketed as a pathway facilitating the German and Euro pean green transition that is mutually beneficial for African interests social movements and affected commu nities have been denouncing green colonialist tendencies of the hydrogen rush. This paper is centring these claims. Applying a heuristic of green colonialism along the lines of externalisation enactment expansion exclusion and empowerment we highlight colonial tendencies of the hydrogen rush in Namibia. While still in a nascent stadium current developments indicate patterns to transform Southern economies according to Euro pean interest which can then uphold their allegedly superior image as renewable energy pioneers. Our study indicates that the green hydrogen rush resembles a longue dur´ee of (neo)colonial violence: while clinging to old colonial patterns it takes advantage of the post-colonial state and at the same time uses narratives of contemporary multiple crises to advance and legitimise a supposedly green but intrinsically violent transition.
A Hydrogen Supply System Utilizing PEMFC Exhaust Heat and Modular Metal Hydride Tanks for Hydrogen-powered Bicycles
Sep 2025
Publication
A compact hydrogen supply system for thermally integrating metal hydride (MH) tanks with a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for a hydrogen-powered electric-assist bicycle (H-bike) is proposed. The system recovers the exhaust heat generated by the PEMFC to sustain hydrogen desorption and improve the system’s energy efficiency. The results demonstrate that the split-tank strategy decreases thermal and pressure gradients and enhances heat transfer and hydrogen release. The honeycomb tank configuration further improves hydrogen desorption by promoting uniform airflow distribution around each tank thereby improving exhaust heat utilization from the PEMFC. It employs a layer-adjustable configuration facilitating the flexible adaptation of MH cartridge quantities to meet hydrogen demand and prevailing road conditions in urban areas. Under a PEMFC power output of 215 W the system maintains a stable hydrogen flow rate for over 30 min with a heat recovery efficiency of 22.62 %. Furthermore increasing the number of MH cartridge layers significantly improves the thermal utilization of the system achieving a utilization efficiency of 39.90 % with two layers. These findings confirm the feasibility and scalability of the proposed system for H-bike highlighting its potential as a decentralized hydrogen supply solution for lightweight mobility and urban transportation applications.
A Novel Design Approach: Increase in Storage and Transport Efficiency for Liquid Hydrogen by Using a Dual Concept Involving a Steel-fiber Composite Tank and Thermal Sprayed Insulating Coatings
Nov 2024
Publication
Wind power-to-gas concepts have a high potential to sustainably cover the increasing demand for hydrogen as an energy carrier and raw material as it has been shown in the past that there is an enormous potential in energy overproduction which currently remains unused due to the shutdown of wind turbines. Thus there is barely experience in maritime production offshore storage and transport of large quantities of liquid hydrogen (LH2) due to the developing market. Instead tank designs refer to heavy standard onshore storage and transport applications with vacuum insulated double wall hulls made from austenitic stainless steel and comparatively high thermal diffusivity and conductivity. This reduces cost effectiveness due to inevitable boil-off and disregards some other requirements such as mechanical and cyclic strength and high corrosion resistance. Hence new concepts for LH2 tanks are required for addressing these issues. Two innovative technical concepts from space travel and high-temperature applications were adopted combined and qualified for use in the wind-power-to-gas scenario. The focus was particularly on the high requirements for transport weight insulation and cryogenic durability. The first concept part consisted of the implementation of FRP (fiber-reinforced plastics)–steel hybrid tanks which have a high potential as a hull for LH2 tanks. However these hybrid tanks are currently only used in the space sector. Questions still arise regarding interactions with coatings production material temperature resilience and design for commercial use. Thermally sprayed thermal barrier coatings (TBC) in turn show promising potential for surfaces subject to high thermal and mechanical stress. However the application is currently limited to use at high temperatures and needed to be extended to the cryogenic temperature range. The research on this second part of the concept thus focused on the validation of standard MCrAlY alloys and innovative (partially) amorphous metal coatings with regard to mechanical-technological and insulating properties in the low temperature range. This article gives an overview regarding the achieved results including manufacturing and measurements on a small tank demonstrator.
From Pure H2 to H2-CO2 Mixtures: A Study of Reductant Strategies in Plasma Iron Smelting Reduction
Sep 2025
Publication
Hydrogen plasma offers an emerging route for carbon-free iron oxide reduction but typical inert gas dilution limits industrial applicability. This study explores pure hydrogen and hydrogen–carbon dioxide plasma for in-flight hematite reduction in atmospheric elongated arc discharge. Pure hydrogen yields the lowest power consumption but reduced plasma stability and limited conversion. CO2 addition enhances stability increasing gas temperature from approximately 1900 K (pure H2 ) to 2900 K at 50% CO2 driven by exothermic H2 oxidation. Particle rapidly reach gas temperature (>2000 K within 5 ms). The highest metallization degree (≈37%) achieved at 30% CO2 corresponds to an optimal reductant gas composition balancing hydrogen carbon monoxide and atomic hydrogen availability. Higher dilution (50% CO2 ) significantly decreased the reductant gas availability lowering the degree of reduction despite higher temperatures. These insights demonstrate that controlled CO2 co-feeding and regeneration optimize plasma stability temperature and reductant gas chemistry presenting a promising approach towards scalable and energy-efficient hydrogen plasma smelting reduction for sustainable metallurgy with a CO2 closed loop.
Towards Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen: Integrating Methane Pyrolysis with Geothermal Energy
Oct 2025
Publication
Methane pyrolysis produces hydrogen (H2) with solid carbon black as a co-product eliminating direct CO2 emissions and enabling a low-carbon supply when combined with renewable or low-carbon heat sources. In this study we propose a hybrid geothermal pyrolysis configuration in which an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) provides baseload preheating and isothermal holding while either electrical or solar–thermal input supplies the final temperature rise to the catalytic set-point. The work addresses four main objectives: (i) integrating field-scale geothermal operating envelopes to define heatintegration targets and duty splits; (ii) assessing scalability through high-pressure reactor design thermal management and carbon separation strategies that preserve co-product value; (iii) developing a techno-economic analysis (TEA) framework that lists CAPEX and OPEX incorporates carbon pricing and credits and evaluates dual-product economics for hydrogen and carbon black; and (iv) reorganizing state-of-the-art advances chronologically linking molten media demonstrations catalyst development and integration studies. The process synthesis shows that allocating geothermal heat to the largest heat-capacity streams (feed recycle and melt/salt hold) reduces electric top-up demand and stabilizes reactor operation thereby mitigating coking sintering and broad particle size distributions. Highpressure operation improves the hydrogen yield and equipment compactness but it also requires corrosion-resistant materials and careful thermal-stress management. The TEA indicates that the levelized cost of hydrogen is primarily influenced by two factors: (a) electric duty and the carbon intensity of power and (b) the achievable price and specifications of the carbon co-product. Secondary drivers include the methane price geothermal capacity factor and overall conversion and selectivity. Overall geothermal-assisted methane pyrolysis emerges as a practical pathway to turquoise hydrogen if the carbon quality is maintained and heat integration is optimized. The study offers design principles and reporting guidelines intended to accelerate pilot-scale deployment.
A Systematic Review of Energy Recovery and Regeneration Systems in Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles for Deployment in Developing Nations
Aug 2025
Publication
Improving the efficiency and range of hydrogen-powered electric vehicles (HPEVs) is essential for their global adoption especially in developing countries with limited resources. This study systematically evaluates regenerative braking and suspension systems in HPEVs and proposes a deployment-focused framework tailored to the needs of developing nations. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases to identify relevant studies. The selected studies are screened assessed for quality and analyzed based on predefined criteria. The data is synthesized and interpreted to identify patterns gaps and conclusions. The findings show that regeneration systems such as regenerative braking and regenerative suspension are the most effective energy recovery systems in most electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Although the regenerative braking system (RBS) offers higher energy efficiency gains that enhance cost-effectiveness despite its high initial investment the regenerative suspension system (RSS) involves increased complexity. Still it offers comparatively efficient energy recovery particularly in developing countries with patchy road infrastructure. The gaps highlighted in this review will aid researchers and vehicle manufacturers in designing optimizing developing and commercializing HPEVs for deployment in developing countries.
A Review of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion in Aviation: Modeling Methods, Energy Management Strategies, and Future Prospects
Oct 2025
Publication
Aviation is under increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions in conventional transports and support the growth of low-altitude operations such as long-endurance eVTOLs. Hybrid-electric propulsion addresses these challenges by integrating the high specific energy of fuels or hydrogen with the controllability and efficiency of electrified powertrains. At present the field of hybrid-electric aircraft is developing rapidly. To systematically study hybrid-electric propulsion control in aviation this review focuses on practical aspects of system development including propulsion architectures system- and component-level modeling approaches and energy management strategies. Key technologies in the future are examined with emphasis on aircraft power-demand prediction multi-timescale control and thermal integrated energy management. This review aims to serve as a reference for configuration design modeling and control simulation as well as energy management strategy design of hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Building on this reference role the review presents a coherent guidance scheme from architectures through modeling to energy-management control with a practical roadmap toward flight-ready deployment.
Global Research Trends in Catalysis for Green Hydrogen Production from Wastewater: A Bibliometric Study (2010–2024)
Sep 2025
Publication
By turning a waste stream into a clean energy source green hydrogen generation from wastewater provides a dual solution to energy and environmental problems. This study presents a thorough bibliometric analysis of research trends in the field of green hydrogen generation from wastewater between 2010 and 2024. A total of 221 publications were extracted from Scopus database and VOSviewer (1.6.20) was used as a visualization tool to identify influential authors institutions collaborations and thematic focus areas. The analysis revealed a significant increase in research output with a peak of 122 publications in 2024 with a total of 705 citations. China had the most contributions with 60 publications followed by India (30) and South Korea (26) indicating substantial regional involvement in Asia. Keyword co-occurrence and coauthorship network mapping revealed 779 distinct keywords grouped around key themes like electrolysis hydrogen evolution reactions and wastewater treatment. Significantly this work was supported by contributions from 115 publication venues with the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy emerging as the most active and cited source (40 articles 539 citations). The multidisciplinary aspect of the area was highlighted by keyword co-occurrence analysis which identified recurring themes including electrolysis wastewater treatment and hydrogen evolution processes. Interestingly the most-cited study garnered 131 citations and discussed the availability of unconventional water sources for electrolysis. Although there is growing interest in the field it is still in its initial phases indicating a need for additional research particularly in developing countries. This work offers a basic overview for researchers and policymakers who are focused on promoting the sustainable generation of green hydrogen from wastewater.
Techno-economic Analysis of Green Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns: Evaluating Cycling Effects and Cavern Scaling on the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen Storage in Ireland's Power-to-X Landscape
Sep 2025
Publication
This paper examines the techno-economic feasibility of utilising salt caverns for large-scale hydrogen storage in Ireland leveraging wind energy and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers. The analysis focuses on optimising the integration of wind power with hydrogen production and storage addressing key challenges such as energy curtailment grid transmission constraints and renewable energy intermittency. Findings highlight significant economic considerations with a single hydrogen storage cavern requiring an initial investment of approximately €240 million where geological site preparation and compressor systems constitute the largest cost components. Annual operational expenses (OPEX) are estimated at €4.6 million largely due to compressor energy consumption and cooling requirements. The study emphasizes the critical impact of electrolyser scale on economic viability. Small-scale systems such as a 20 MW PEM electrolyser are economically unfeasible with a levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of around €10/kg and filling times extending up to 2.5 years. However scaling up to a 200 MW PEM electrolyser dramatically improves cost efficiency lowering the LCOH to approximately €0.83/kg and reducing filling times to just 90 days. This research provides a comprehensive framework for hydrogen storage development offering key insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to drive the renewable energy transition and enhance energy security through cost-effective and sustainable storage solutions.
Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications
Oct 2025
Publication
Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) which combine photocatalysis with membrane separation represent a pivotal technology for sustainable water treatment and resource recovery. Although extensive research has documented various configurations of photocatalytic-membrane hybrid processes and their potential in water treatment applications a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among reactor architectures intrinsic physicochemical mechanisms and overall process efficiency remains inadequately explored. This knowledge gap hinders the rational design of highly efficient and stable reactor systems—a shortcoming that this review seeks to remedy. Here we critically examine the connections between reactor configurations design principles and cutting-edge applications to outline future research directions. We analyze the evolution of reactor architectures relevantreaction kinetics and key operational parameters that inform rational design linking these fundamentals to recent advances in solar-driven hydrogen production CO2 conversion and industrial scaling. Our analysis reveals a significant disconnect between the mechanistic understanding of reactor operation and the system-level performance required for innovative applications. This gap between theory and practice is particularly evident in efforts to translate laboratory success into robust and economically feasible industrial-scale operations. We believe that PMRs willrealize theirtransformative potential in sustainable energy and environmental applications in future.
High-Efficiency, Lightweight, and Reliable Integrated Structures—The Future of Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Oct 2025
Publication
The high efficiency light weight and reliability of hydrogen energy electrochemical equipment are among the future development directions. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and electrolyzers as key components have structures and strengths that determine the efficiency of their power generation and the hydrogen production efficiency of electrolyzers. This article summarizes the evolution of membrane electrode and electrolyzer structures and their power and efficiency in recent years highlighting the significant role of integrated structures in promoting proton transport and enhancing performance. Finally it proposes the development direction of integrating electrolyte and electrode manufacturing using phase-change methods.
Investigation of Hydrogen Production System-Based PEM EL: PEM EL Modeling, DC/DC Power Converter, and Controller Design Approaches
Apr 2023
Publication
The main component of the hydrogen production system is the electrolyzer (EL) which is used to convert electrical energy and water into hydrogen and oxygen. The power converter supplies the EL and the controller is used to ensure the global stability and safety of the overall system. This review aims to investigate and analyze each one of these components: Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer (PEM EL) electrical modeling DC/DC power converters and control approaches. To achieve this desired result a review of the literature survey and an investigation of the PEM EL electrical modeling of the empirical and semi-empirical including the static and dynamic models are carried out. In addition other sub-models used to predict the temperature gas flow rates (H2 and O2 ) hydrogen pressure and energy efficiency for PEM EL are covered. DC/DC power converters suitable for PEM EL are discussed in terms of efficiency current ripple voltage ratio and their ability to operate in the case of power switch failure. This review involves analysis and investigation of PEM EL control strategies and approaches previously used to achieve control objectives robustness and reliability in studying the DC/DC converter-PEM electrolyzer system. The paper also highlights the online parameter identification of the PEM electrolyzer model and adaptive control issues. Finally a discussion of the results is developed to emphasize the strengths weaknesses and imperfections of the literature on this subject as well as proposing ideas and challenges for future work.
Unlocking Hydrogen's Potential: Prediction of Adsorption in Metal-organic Frameworks for Sustainable Energy Storage
Oct 2025
Publication
Accurately predicting hydrogen adsorption behavior is essential to developing efficient materials with storage capacities approaching those of liquid hydrogen and surpassing the performance of conventional compressed gas storage systems. Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations accurately predict adsorption isotherms but are computationally expensive limiting large-scale material screening. We employ GPU-accelerated threedimensional classical density functional theory (DFT) based on the SAFT-VRQ Mie equation of state with a first-order Feynman–Hibbs correction to model hydrogen adsorption in [Zn(bdc)(ted)0.5] MOF-5 CuBTC and ZIF-8 at 30 K 50 K 77 K and 298 K. Our approach generates adsorption isotherms in seconds compared to hours for GCMC simulations with quantum corrections proving crucial for accurate low-temperature predictions. The results show good agreement with GCMC simulations and available experiments demonstrating classical DFT as a powerful tool for high-throughput material screening and optimizing hydrogen storage applications.
Performance Test of a Hydrogen-powered Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System and its Simulation for Vehicle Propulsion Application
Dec 2024
Publication
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have not received enough attention as a power source in the transportation sector. However with the development of the technology its advantages over other types of fuel cells such as fuel flexibility and high energy efficiency have made SOFC an interesting option. The present study aims at simulation and experimentally validation of the performance of a hydrogen-powered SOFC in an automotive application. A 6 kW SOFC stack is tested and its model is integrated into a series hybrid electric vehicle model. A fuzzy controller is designed to regulate the charging current between the battery and the SOFC in the vehicle model. Experimental tests are also conducted in a few cases on the SOFC based on the simulation results. The performance of the real SOFC stack is then analysed under dynamic loads to see how the desired current is provided in practice. The results demonstrate a good performance of the SOFC stack under variable load conditions.
A Capacity Optimization Method of Ship Integrated Power System Based on Comprehensive Scenario Planning: Considering the Hydrogen Energy Storage System and Supercapacitor
Oct 2025
Publication
Environmental pollution caused by shipping has always received great attention from the international community. Currently due to the difficulty of fully electrifying medium- and large-scale ships the hybrid energy ship power system (HESPS) will be the main type in the future. Considering the economic and long-term energy efficiency of ships as well as the uncertainty of the output power of renewable energy units this paper proposes an improved design for an integrated power system for large cruise ships combining renewable energy and a hybrid energy storage system. An energy management strategy (EMS) based on time-gradient control and considering load dynamic response as well as an energy storage power allocation method that considers the characteristics of energy storage devices is designed. A bi-level power capacity optimization model grounded in comprehensive scenario planning and aiming to optimize maximum return on equity is constructed and resolved by utilizing an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm integrated with dynamic programming. Based on a large-scale cruise ship the aforementioned method was investigated and compared to the conventional planning approach. It demonstrates that the implementation of this optimization method can significantly decrease costs enhance revenue and increase the return on equity from 5.15% to 8.66%.
Open-Circuit Switch Fault Diagnosis and Accommodation of a Three-Level Interleaved Buck Converter for Electrolyzer Applications
Mar 2023
Publication
This article proposes a novel open-circuit switch fault diagnosis method (FDM) for a three-level interleaved buck converter (TLIBC) in a hydrogen production system based on the water electrolysis process. The control algorithm is suitably modified to ensure the same hydrogen production despite the fault. The TLIBC enables the interfacing of the power source (i.e. low-carbon energy sources) and electrolyzer while driving the hydrogen production of the system in terms of current or voltage. On one hand the TLIBC can guarantee a continuity of operation in case of power switch failures because of its interleaved architecture. On the other hand the appearance of a power switch failure may lead to a loss of performance. Therefore it is crucial to accurately locate the failure in the TLIBC and implement a fault-tolerant control strategy for performance purposes. The proposed FDM relies on the comparison of the shape of the input current and the pulse width modulation (PWM) gate signal of each power switch. Finally an experimental test bench of the hydrogen production system is designed and realized to evaluate the performance of the developed FDM and fault-tolerant control strategy for TLIBC during post-fault operation. It is implemented with a real-time control based on a MicroLabBox dSPACE (dSPACE Paderborn Germany) platform combined with a TI C2000 microcontroller. The obtained simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed FDM can detect open-circuit switch failures in one switching period and reconfigure the control law accordingly to ensure the same current is delivered before the failure.
Optimum Blending Hydrogen Ratio in Spray Combustion to Reduce Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides
Sep 2025
Publication
This study examined the effects of adding hydrogen to flammable liquid fuel droplets on emissions. It was found that an optimal mixing ratio with hydrogen can reduce the amount of NO in the reaction zone which is the area where the primary combustion reactions occur. N-pentane is burnt in air enriched with different amounts of hydrogen and the effects of the amount of hydrogen in the air on the combustion and emission parameters are investigated numerically. The combustion is modelled with the PDF/mixture fraction and standard twoequation turbulence models and thermal NO models are used for this modelling. The determination of the optimum H2 blending ratio is evaluated after the estimation results. It is evident that the addition of H2 led to an increase in spray flame temperatures. As a result the addition of H2 increases the combustion performance of n-pentane. The emissions evaluation results show that a blending ratio of 20% H2 reduces CO emissions at the combustion’s reaction zone and also results in a decrease in the mixture fraction. There is an increase in NO emissions due to the increase in spray flame temperatures. Combustion under air conditions containing 20% H2 by volume resulted in the highest temperature levels reaching 2130 K while the reduced NO levels decreased to approximately 11.3%. The thermal NO model when combined with the combustion model provides a sufficient level of agreement with the experimental data.
Impact of Solar Thermal Energy and Calcium Looping Implementation on Biomass Gasification for Low-carbon Hydrogen Production
Sep 2025
Publication
In the search of low-carbon hydrogen production routes this study evaluates four biomass gasification processes: conventional steam gasification (CSG) sorption-enhanced gasification (SEG) and their solar-assisted variants (SSG and SSEG). The comparison focuses on three key aspects: hydrogen production overall energy efficiency (to H2 and power) and carbon capture potential (generation of a pure CO2 process stream for storage or utilization). For a realistic comparison a pseudo-equilibrium model of a double-bed gasifier was developed based on experimental correlations of char conversion under conventional and SEG conditions. The solar processes were designed for stable year-round operation considering seasonal weather variations by appropriately dimensioning the heliostat field and the thermal and chemical energy storage systems whose inventory dynamics were modelled. Both the gasifier and central solar tower models were rigorously validated with published data enhancing the reliability of the results. Solar-assisted configurations significantly outperform non-solar ones in hydrogen production with SSEG yielding 128 kg H2/ton biomassdaf compared to 90–95 kg for non-solar options. SEG demonstrates superior carbon capture potential (76 %) while solar-assisted systems achieve higher energy efficiency (67–73 % vs. 60–63 % for non-solar). These results underscore the potential of solar-assisted gasification for sustainable hydrogen production offering enhanced yields improved efficiency and substantial carbon capture capabilities. Future work will involve economic and environmental analysis to determine the best overall configuration.
Silicon Nanostructures for Hydrogen Generation and Storage
Oct 2025
Publication
Today hydrogen is already widely regarded as up-and-coming source of energy. It is essential to meet energy needs while reducing environmental pollution since it has a high energy capacity and does not emit carbon oxide when burned. However for the widespread application of hydrogen energy it is necessary to search new technical solutions for both its production and storage. A promising effective and cost-efficient method of hydrogen generation and storage can be the use of solid materials including nanomaterials in which chemical or physical adsorption of hydrogen occurs. Focusing on the recommendations of the DOE the search is underway for materials with high gravimetric capacity more than 6.5% wt% and in which sorption and release of hydrogen occurs at temperatures from −20 to +100 ◦C and normal pressure. This review aims to summarize research on hydrogen generation and storage using silicon nanostructures and silicon composites. Hydrogen generation has been observed in Si nanoparticles porous Si and Si nanowires. Regardless of their size and surface chemistry the silicon nanocrystals interact with water/alcohol solutions resulting in their complete oxidation the hydrolysis of water and the generation of hydrogen. In addition porous Si nanostructures exhibit a large internal specific surface area covered by SiHx bonds. A key advantage of porous Si nanostructures is their ability to release molecular hydrogen through the thermal decomposition of SiHx groups or in interaction with water/alkali. The review also covers simulations and theoretical modeling of H2 generation and storage in silicon nanostructures. Using hydrogen with fuel cells could replace Li-ion batteries in drones and mobile gadgets as more efficient. Finally some recent applications including the potential use of Si-based agents as hydrogen sources to address issues associated with new approaches for antioxidative therapy. Hydrogen acts as a powerful antioxidant specifically targeting harmful ROS such as hydroxyl radicals. Antioxidant therapy using hydrogen (often termed hydrogen medicine) has shown promise in alleviating the pathology of various diseases including brain ischemia–reperfusion injury Parkinson’s disease and hepatitis.
Analysis of Equipment Failures as a Contributor to Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Incidents
Oct 2025
Publication
Hydrogen is a sustainable clean source of energy and a viable alternative to carbon-based fossil fuels. To support the transport sector’s transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen a hydrogen refuelling station network is being developed to refuel hydrogen-powered vehicles. However hydrogen’s inherent properties present a significant safety challenge and there have been several hydrogen incidents noted with severe impacts to people and assets reported from operational hydrogen refuelling stations worldwide. This paper presents the outcome of an analysis of hydrogen incidents that occurred at hydrogen refuelling stations. For this purpose the HIAD 2.1 and H2tool.org databases were used for the collection of hydrogen incidents. Forty-five incidents were reviewed and analysed to determine the frequent equipment failures in the hydrogen refuelling stations and the underlying causes. This study adopted a mixed research approach for the analysis of the incidents in the hydrogen refuelling stations. The analysis reveals that storage tank failures accounted for 40% of total reported incidents hydrogen dispenser failures accounted for 33% compressors accounted for 11% valves accounted for 9% and pipeline failures accounted for 7%. To enable the safe operation of hydrogen refuelling stations hazards must be understood effective barriers implemented and learning from past incidents incorporated into safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
New Insights into the Improvement of Hydrogen Embrittlement Resistance of Heat-treated Carbon Steels by Shot Peening
Oct 2025
Publication
The effectiveness of shot peening in suppressing hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of the heat-treated steels with different strength levels 790 MPa (115 ksi) and 930 MPa (135 ksi) was comprehensively investigated. A plastically deformed layer on the surface facilitated an increased number of dislocations and refined grain morphology. This hindered hydrogen transportation as confirmed by the results of electrochemical permeation exhibiting a decrease in the effective diffusion coefficient up to 47 %. The trapping behaviour of the steels scrutinized through Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS) proposed that dislocations are primary traps. Along with this residual compressive stresses (RCS) were introduced into the materials reaching a maximum of − 650 MPa and a depth of 250 μm. This prevented fracture of the steels under constant load in a plastic regime (1.05xYS) and 120 bar H2 environment. Slow Strain Rate Tensile (SSRT) tests indicated superior mechanical properties of the shot-peened steels under electrochemical charging reducing HE susceptibility by 15 %. Fracture morphology confirmed the protective nature of the plastically deformed layer highlighting a higher ductility of the fracture. RCS has been indicated as a determining factor in suppressing HE by shot peening regardless of the strength level of the steel.
Evaluation of Technological Alternatives for the Energy Transition of Coal-Fired Power Plants, with a Multi-Criteria Approach
Aug 2025
Publication
This paper investigates technological pathways for the conversion of coal-fired power plants toward sustainable energy sources using an integrated multi-criteria decisionmaking approach that combines Proknow-C AHP and PROMETHEE. Eight alternatives were identified: full conversion to natural gas full conversion to biomass coal and natural gas hybridization coal and biomass hybridization electricity and hydrogen cogeneration coal and solar energy hybridization post-combustion carbon capture systems and decommissioning with subsequent reuse. The analysis combined bibliographic data (26 scientific articles and 13 patents) with surveys from 14 energy experts using Total Decision version 1.2.1041.0 and Visual PROMETHEE version 1.1.0.0 software tools. Based on six criteria (environmental structural technical technological economic and social) the most viable option was full conversion to natural gas (ϕ = +0.0368) followed by coal and natural gas hybridization (ϕ = +0.0257) and coal and solar hybridization (ϕ = +0.0124). These alternatives emerged as the most balanced in terms of emissions reduction infrastructure reuse and cost efficiency. In contrast decommissioning (ϕ = −0.0578) and carbon capture systems (ϕ = −0.0196) were less favorable. This study proposes a structured framework for strategic energy planning that supports a just energy transition and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13 highlighting the need for public policies that enhance the competitiveness and scalability of sustainable alternatives.
What is Next in Anion-Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers? Bottlenecks, Benefits, and Future
Mar 2022
Publication
As highlighted by the recent roadmaps from the European Union and the United States water electrolysis is the most valuable high-intensity technology for producing green hydrogen. Currently two commercial low-temperature water electrolyzer technologies exist: alkaline water electrolyzer (A-WE) and proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEM-WE). However both have major drawbacks. A-WE shows low productivity and efficiency while PEM-WE uses a significant amount of critical raw materials. Lately the use of anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEM-WE) has been proposed to overcome the limitations of the current commercial systems. AEM-WE could become the cornerstone to achieve an intense safe and resilient green hydrogen production to fulfill the hydrogen targets to achieve the 2050 decarbonization goals. Here the status of AEM-WE development is discussed with a focus on the most critical aspects for research and highlighting the potential routes for overcoming the remaining issues. The Review closes with the future perspective on the AEM-WE research indicating the targets to be achieved.
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems: Integration of Urban Mobility Through Metal Hydrides Solution as an Enabling Technology for Increasing Self-Sufficiency
Oct 2025
Publication
The ongoing energy transition and decarbonization efforts have prompted the development of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) capable of integrating multiple generation and storage technologies to enhance energy autonomy. Among the available options hydrogen has emerged as a versatile energy carrier yet most studies have focused either on stationary applications or on mobility seldom addressing their integration withing a single framework. In particular the potential of Metal Hydride (MH) tanks remains largely underexplored in the context of sector coupling where the same storage unit can simultaneously sustain household demand and provide in-house refueling for lightduty fuel-cell vehicles. This study presents the design and analysis of a residential-scale HRES that combines photovoltaic generation a PEM electrolyzer a lithium-ion battery and MH storage intended for direct integration with a fuel-cell electric microcar. A fully dynamic numerical model was developed to evaluate system interactions and quantify the conditions under which low-pressure MH tanks can be effectively integrated into HRES with particular attention to thermal management and seasonal variability. Two simulation campaigns were carried out to provide both component-level and system-level insights. The first focused on thermal management during hydrogen absorption in the MH tank comparing passive and active cooling strategies. Forced convection reduced absorption time by 44% compared to natural convection while avoiding the additional energy demand associated with thermostatic baths. The second campaign assessed seasonal operation: even under winter irradiance conditions the system ensured continuous household supply and enabled full recharge of two MH tanks every six days in line with the hydrogen requirements of the light vehicle daily commuting profile. Battery support further reduced grid reliance achieving a Grid Dependency Factor as low as 28.8% and enhancing system autonomy during cold periods.
Large-Scale H2 Storage and Transport with Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier Technology: Insights into Current Project Developments and the Future Outlook
Jan 2024
Publication
The green hydrogen economy is evolving rapidly accompanied by the need to establish trading routes on a global scale. Currently several technologies arecompeting for a leadership role in future hydrogen value chains. Within thiscontext liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology represents an excellent solution for large-scale storage and safe transportation of hydrogen.This article presents LOHC technology recent progress as well as further potential of this technology with focus on benzyltoluene as the carrier material.Furthermore this contribution offers an insight into previous and ongoingproject development activities led by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies togetherwith an evaluation of the economic viability and an overview of the regulatory aspects of LOHC technology.
Mapping Current Research on Hydrogen Supply Chain Design for Global Trade
Sep 2025
Publication
Global demand for clean energy carriers like hydrogen (H2) is rising under carbon-reduction policies. While domestic H2 projects are progressing international trade presents significant opportunities for countries with abundant renewables or advanced production capabilities. Yet establishing H2 as a viable global commodity requires overcoming supply chain challenges in flexibility efficiency and cost. This review examines hydrogen supply chain network design (HSCND) studies and highlights key research gaps in export-oriented systems. Current work often focuses on transport technologies but lacks integrated analyses combining technical economic and policy dimensions. Notable gaps include limited research on retrofitting infrastructure for H2 derivatives underexplored roles of ports as export hubs and insufficient evaluation of regulatory frameworks and financial risks. This review proposes a methodological approach to guide HSCND for export supporting data collection and strategic planning. Future research should integrate technical geopolitical and social factors into models backed by methodological innovation and empirical evidence.
Risk Assessment Framework for Green Hydrogen Megaprojects: Balancing Climate Goals with Project Viability
Dec 2024
Publication
Green hydrogen presents a promising solution for decarbonisation but its widespread adoption faces significant challenges. To meet Europe’s 2030 targets a 250-fold increase in electrolyser capacity is required necessitating an investment of €170-240 billion. This involves constructing 20-40 pioneering megaprojects each with a 1-5 GW capacity. Historically pioneering energy projects have seen capital costs double or triple from initial estimates with over 50% failing to meet production goals at startup due to new technology introductions site-specific characteristics and project complexity. Additionally megaprojects costing more than €1 billion frequently succumb to the "iron law" which states they are often over budget take longer than anticipated and yield fewer benefits than expected mainly because key players consistently underestimate costs and risks. Pursuing multiple pioneering megaprojects simultaneously restricts opportunities for iterative learning which raises risks related to untested technologies and infrastructure demands. This vision paper introduces a novel risk assessment framework that combines insights from pioneering and megaprojects with technology readiness evaluations and comparative CO2 reduction analyses to tackle these challenges. The framework aims to guide investment decisions and risk mitigation strategies such as staged scaling and limiting the introduction of new technology. The analysis highlights that using green ammonia for fertiliser production can reduce CO2 emissions by 51 tons of CO2 per ton of hydrogen significantly outperforming hydrogen use in transportation and heating. This structured approach considers risks and environmental benefits while promoting equitable risk distribution between developed and developing nations.
Hydrogen Production Plant via an Intensified Plasma-based Technology
Oct 2025
Publication
Developing cleaner processes via newer technologies will accelerate advancement toward more sustainable energy systems. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and an intermediate molecule in chemical processes. This research investigates an innovative hydrogen production process utilizing a non-thermal Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-based Reformer (CAPR). Exploring environmentally friendly and economically viable pathways for hydrogen production is crucial for addressing climate change and reducing the carbon footprint of industrial processes. The study investigates the conversion of natural gas to hydrogen at ambient temperature and pressure highlighting the ability of plasma-based technology to operate without direct CO2 emissions.<br/>Initially through experimental studies natural gas was passed through the CAPR where the plasma's energetic discharges initiate the reforming process. Subsequently the produced hydrogen along with other light hydrocarbons enters the separation system for producing purified hydrogen. The research focuses on techno-economic analyses and sensitivity assessments to determine the levelized cost of producing hydrogen via a nanosecond plasma-based refining plant and benchmark technologies. Sensitivity analyses identify two primary factors that significantly affect the levelized cost of hydrogen production in a plasma-based reforming system.<br/>The research suggests that instead of producing carbon dioxide and capturing the emitted CO2 utilize processes that do not emit direct CO2. CAPR shows potential for cost competitiveness with conventional hydrogen production methods including steam methane reforming (SMR) and electrolysis. The findings underscore the need for further research to optimize the system's performance and cost-effectiveness positioning CAPR as a potentially transformative technology for the chemical process industry.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: COP28 Special
Dec 2023
Publication
To round off Season 5 the team are taking the podcast to COP28 in Dubai and providing listeners with a bit of texture including what the event was like to attend as well as sharing a snapshot of some of the varied voices and discussions that took place. Having had a little time for reflection Alicia Chris and Patrick also offer their thoughts and takeaways on what this COP might mean for the future.
COP28 was the first in nearly 30 years to feature hydrogen as part of the Presidential Action Agenda.
The podcast can be found on their website.
COP28 was the first in nearly 30 years to feature hydrogen as part of the Presidential Action Agenda.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Multi-Physics Coupling Simulation of H2O–CO2 Co-Electrolysis Using Flat Tubular Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells
Oct 2025
Publication
Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) have emerged as a promising technology for efficient energy storage and CO2 utilization via H2O–CO2 co-electrolysis. While most previous studies focused on planar or tubular configurations this work investigated a novel flat tubular SOEC design using a comprehensive 3D multi-physics model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6. This model integrates charge transfer gas flow heat transfer chemical/electrochemical reactions and structural mechanics to analyze operational behavior and thermo-mechanical stress under different voltages and pressures. Simulation results indicate that increasing operating voltage leads to significant temperature and current density inhomogeneity. Furthermore elevated pressure improves electrochemical performance possibly due to increased reactant concentrations and reduced mass transfer limitations; however it also increases temperature gradients and the maximum first principal stress. These findings underscore that the design and optimization of flat tubular SOECs in H2O–CO2 co-electrolysis should take the trade-off between performance and durability into consideration.
Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Waste Plastics via Staged Chemical Looping Gasification with Iron-based Oxygen Carrier
Aug 2025
Publication
Thermo-chemical conversion of waste plastics offers a sustainable strategy for integrated waste management and clean energy generation. To address the challenges of low gas yield and rapid catalyst deactivation due to coking in conventional gasification processes an innovative three-stage chemical looping gasification (CLG) system specifically designed for enhanced hydrogen-rich syngas production was proposed in this work. A comparative analysis between conventional gasification and the staged CLG system were firstly conducted coupled with online gas analysis for mechanistic elucidation. The influence of Fe/Al molar ratios in oxygen carriers and their cyclic stability were systematically examined through multicycle experiments. Results showed that the three-stage CLG in the presence of Fe1Al2 demonstrated exceptional performance achieving 95.23 mmol/gplastic of H2 and 129.89 mmol/gplastic of syngas respectively representing 1.32-fold enhancement over conventional method. And the increased H2/CO ratio (2.68-2.75) reflected better syngas quality via water-gas shift. Remarkably the oxygen carrier maintained nearly 100% of its initial activity after 7 redox cycles attributed to the incorporation of Al2O3 effectively mitigating sintering and phase segregation through metal-support interactions. These findings establish a three-stage CLG configuration with Fe-Al oxygen carriers as an efficient platform for efficient hydrogen production from waste plastics contributing to sustainable waste valorisation and carbon-neutral energy systems.
A Review on the Use of Catalysis for Biogas Steam Reforming
Nov 2023
Publication
Hydrogen production from natural gas or biogas at different purity levels has emerged as an important technology with continuous development and improvement in order to stand for sustainable and clean energy. Regarding biogas which can be obtained from multiple sources hydrogen production through the steam reforming of methane is one of the most important methods for its energy use. In that sense the role of catalysts to make the process more efficient is crucial normally contributing to a higher hydrogen yield under milder reaction conditions in the final product. The aim of this review is to cover the main points related to these catalysts as every aspect counts and has an influence on the use of these catalysts during this specific process (from the feedstocks used for biogas production or the biodigestion process to the purification of the hydrogen produced). Thus a thorough review of hydrogen production through biogas steam reforming was carried out with a special emphasis on the influence of different variables on its catalytic performance. Also the most common catalysts used in this process as well as the main deactivation mechanisms and their possible solutions are included supported by the most recent studies about these subjects.
A Flow-Based Approach for the Optimal Location and Sizing of Hydrogen Refueling Stations Along a Highway Corridor
Oct 2025
Publication
The development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure plays a strategic role in enabling the decarbonization of the transport sector especially along major freight and passenger corridors such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Despite the growing interest in hydrogen mobility existing methodologies for the optimal location of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) remain fragmented and often overlook operational dynamics. Following a review of the existing literature on HRS location models and approaches this study highlights key methodological gaps that hinder effective infrastructure planning. In response a two-stage framework is proposed combining a flow-based location model with a stochastic queueing approach to determine both the optimal placement of HRS and the number of dispensers required at each site. The method is applied to a real segment of the TEN-T network in Northern Italy. The results demonstrate the flexibility of the model in accommodating different hydrogen vehicle penetration scenarios and its utility as a decision-support tool for public authorities and infrastructure planners.
A Critical Assessment of MILD and Plasma-enhanced Combustion for Net-zero Energy Systems using Green Hydrogen and Ammonia
Oct 2025
Publication
The transition to sustainable and smart urban energy systems requires combustion technologies that combine high efficiency with near-zero emissions. Moderate or intense low-oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion has emerged as a promising solution offering volumetric heat release reduced peak temperatures and strong NOX suppression ideal for integrating green hydrogen carriers such as ammonia and ammonia–hydrogen blends into stationary energy systems. While MILD combustion is well-studied for hydrocarbons its application to carbon-free fuels presents challenges including high ignition temperatures low reactivity and potential NOX formation. This review examines the behavior of ammonia-based fuels under MILD conditions mapping combustion regimes across reactor types and operating parameters. To address ignition and stability issues the review also explores plasma-assisted MILD combustion (PAMC). Non-equilibrium plasma (NEP) discharges promote radical generation reduce ignition delay times and enhance flame stability under lean highly diluted conditions. Recent experimental and numerical studies demonstrate that plasma activation can reduce ignition delay times by up to an order of magnitude lower flame lift-off heights by over 30 % in certain configurations and enhance OH radical concentrations and heat release intensity. The extent of these improvements depends on factors such as plasma energy input fuel type and dilution level. This review synthesizes key findings identifies technical gaps and highlights the potential of MILD and PAMC as clean flexible and scalable solutions for low-emission stationary energy generation in smart city environments.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Electrification and Hydrogen Pathways for Optimal Solar Integration in the Glass Industry
Aug 2025
Publication
Direct electrification and hydrogen utilization represent two key pathways for decarbonizing the glass industry with their effectiveness subject to adequate furnace design and renewable energy availability. This study presents a techno-economic assessment for optimal solar energy integration in a representative 300 t/d oxyfuel container glass furnace with a specific energy consumption of 4.35 GJ/t. A mixed-integer linear programming formulation is developed to evaluate specific melting costs carbon emissions and renewable energy self-consumption and self-production rates across three scenarios: direct solar coupling battery storage and a hydrogen-based infrastructure. Battery storage achieves the greatest reductions in specific melting costs and emissions whereas hydrogen integration minimizes electricity export to the grid. By incorporating capital investment considerations the study quantifies the cost premiums and capacity requirements under varying decarbonization targets. A combination of 30 MW of solar plant and 9 MW of electric boosting enables the realization of around 30% carbon reduction while increasing total costs by 25%. Deeper decarbonization targets require more advanced systems with batteries emerging as a cost-effective solution. These findings offer critical insights into the economic and environmental trade-offs as well as the technical constraints associated with renewable energy adoption in the glass industry providing a foundation for strategic energy and decarbonization planning.
Coordinated Operation of Alternative Fuel Vehicle-integrated Microgrid in a Coupled Power-transportation Network: A Stackelberg-Nash Game Framework
Sep 2025
Publication
With the rapid development of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and renewable energy sources the increasing coordination between electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen vehicles (HVs) in urban coupled powertransportation networks (CPTNs) fosters optimized energy scheduling and enhanced system performance. This study proposes a two-level Stackelberg-Nash game framework for AFV-integrated microgrids in a CPTN to enhance the economic efficiency of microgrid. This framework employs a Stackelberg game model to define the leader-follower relationship between the microgrid operator and the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) aggregator. Nash equilibrium games are established to capture competitive interactions among charging stations (CSs) and among hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs). Furthermore an optimal scheduling model is proposed to minimize microgrid operation costs considering the spatiotemporal dynamics and user preferences of EVs and HVs supported by the proposed dynamic choice model. A game-theoretic pricing and incentive mechanism promotes AFV participation in V2G services enhancing the profitability of CSs and HRSs. Afterward a momentum-enhanced Stackelberg-Nash equilibrium algorithm is developed to address the bi-level optimization problem. Finally numerical simulations validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving economic efficiency and reducing operation costs. The proposed approach offers an effective solution for integrating large-scale AFV fleets into sustainable urban energy and transportation systems.
Exploration of Processability Limitations of Fiber Placement and Thickness Stacking Optimization of Thermoplastic Composite Hydrogen Storage Cylinders for Hydrogen-powered Aircraft
Dec 2024
Publication
Hydrogen-powered aircraft as a cutting-edge exploration of clean-energy air transportation have more stringent requirements for lightweight hydrogen storage equipment due to the limitations of aircraft weight and volume. Composite hydrogen storage cylinders have become one of the preferred solutions for hydrogen storage systems in hydrogen-powered aircraft due to their light weight and high strength. However during the automated placement of high-stiffness thermoplastic composites (T700/PEEK) fibers can buckle or fracture in the header section. As the header radius decreases the overlap of adjacent tows increases resulting in buildup in the thickness of the polar pores which contradicts the lightweight requirements. To solve this problem this paper derives the trajectory algorithm as a manufacturing process limitation when thermoplastic fiber bundles are laid without wrinkles and the effect of different ellipsoid ratios of head profile changes on the overlap of fiber bundles is investigated. The larger the ellipsoid ratio of the prolate ellipsoid is the smaller overlap of gaps generated by neighboring fiber bundles is and the overlap at the pole holes is also smaller whereas the change of the oblate ellipsoid is not significant. The prolate ellipsoid has more application and research value than the oblate ellipsoid in terms of processability which is of great exploration significance for the design and fabrication of thermoplastic composite hydrogen storage cylinders for hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Four Methods of Hydrogen Combustion within Combined Heat and Power Plants to Increase Power Output
Sep 2025
Publication
In recent years there has been an increasingly larger fraction of intermittent energy sources. In the northern parts of Europe the main source of intermittent power is wind power. This source of power is low inertia inconsistent and will always fluctuate with different magnitudes leaving a need for balancing. One source of balancing is to have the widespread non-zero inertia combined heat and power stations work as back-up sources. One way to boost the capability of these power sources is by adding an oxyfuel internal hydrogen combustor. To study the effects of this the steam generator was tested in four different positions within the power plant to test different possibilities with different levels of retrofits. The first was in the high- and lowpressure crossover the second was a reheat at a higher pressure the third was a superheat of the admission steam and finally the fourth was a superheat using the overload valves. The final results showed that the configurations of crossover reheat and superheat of admission steam were the best in terms of retrofit while the reheat at higher pressure was deemed the best in terms of backup capacity reaching a gain in power of 9.5 MW at a fuel efficiency of 30.93 %. The highest fuel efficiencies were shown by the latter two amounting to 45.19 % and 51.58 % in district heating mode respectively. There is great potential to be made from these power plants due to the possibility of increased capacity all across Sweden.
Large-scale LH2 Pipeline Infrastructure Concept for Airports
Aug 2025
Publication
Infrastructure and processes for handling liquid hydrogen (LH2) is needed to decarbonize aviation with hydrogen aircraft. Large airports benefit from pipeline refuelling systems which must be operated to keep the fuel subcooled due to LH2 vaporization challenges. In this paper we estimate LH2 demand for aircraft and the gaseous H2 demand for ground support equipment (GSE) at Schipol in 2050. Modelling and simulation of aircraft refuelling via pipelines show that continuous LH2 recycling is required to maintain subcooling. Vaporization of LH2 during refuelling is heavily influenced by pipeline temperatures. Refuelling aircraft in the morning causes the highest vaporization (2.2 %) due to a long period with low LH2 flow (no refuelling at night). The vaporization decreases to 0 % throughout the day. Furthermore increasing the recycle rate during night lowers the pipeline temperatures reducing the vaporization to 1.7 %. The amount of vaporized hydrogen corresponds well with the GSE demand for gaseous H2.
Wind-powered Hydrogen Refueling Station with Energy Recovery for Green Mobility in Sustainable Cities
Jan 2025
Publication
This study presents the conceptual design and evaluation of an HRS for light-duty FCEVs. The proposed system integrates wind turbines a water electrolyzer three-stage hydrogen compressor heat recovery and storage a two-stage Organic Rankine Cycle (TS-ORC) hydrogen storage tanks a Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle (VCRC) and a hydrogen dispenser. Waste heat from the hydrogen compression process is harnessed to power the TS-ORC where the first stage drives the VCRC and the second stage generates additional electricity. A comprehensive assessment of the system confirmed the system's compliance with the principles of thermodynamics. The results indicate an overall system efficiency of 25.4% and the wind turbines alone achieve 46.21% efficiency. The overall exergy destruction rate of the system is computed to be 2120 kW and the main exergy destruction occurs in wind turbines and water electrolyzer. The first and second stages of the ORC exhibit efficiencies of 14.45% and 6.05% respectively while the VCRC yields a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 1.24. The specific energy consumption for electrolytic hydrogen production compression and pre-cooling are calculated as 58.83 1.99 and 0.29 kWh/kg respectively. The hydrogen dispenser fills an onboard hydrogen storage tank with a 4 kg capacity at 700 bar in 5.5 min.
Hydrogen Recovery from Coke Oven Gas. Comparative Analysis of Technical Alternatives
Feb 2022
Publication
The recovery of energy and valuable compounds from exhaust gases in the iron and steel industry deserves specialattention due to the large power consumption and CO 2 emissions of the sector. In this sense the hydrogen content of coke oven gas(COG) has positioned it as a promising source toward a hydrogen-based economy which could lead to economic and environmentalbenefits in the iron and steel industry. COG is presently used for heating purposes in coke batteries or furnaces while in highproduction rate periods surplus COG is burnt in flares and discharged into the atmosphere. Thus the recovery of the valuablecompounds of surplus COG with a special focus on hydrogen will increase the efficiency in the iron and steel industry compared tothe conventional thermal use of COG. Different routes have been explored for the recovery of hydrogen from COG so far: i)separation/purification processes with pressure swing adsorption or membrane technology ii) conversion routes that provideadditional hydrogen from the chemical transformation of the methane contained in COG and iii) direct use of COG as fuel forinternal combustion engines or gas turbines with the aim of power generation. In this study the strengths and bottlenecks of themain hydrogen recovery routes from COG are reviewed and discussed.
The Energy Management Strategies for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: An Overview and Future Directions
Sep 2025
Publication
The rapid development of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) has highlighted the critical importance of optimizing energy management strategies to improve vehicle performance energy efficiency durability and reduce hydrogen consumption and operational costs. However existing approaches often face limitations in real-time applicability adaptability to varying driving conditions and computational efficiency. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of FCEV energy management strategies systematically classifying methods and evaluating their technical principles advantages and practical limitations. Key techniques including optimization-based methods (dynamic programming model predictive control) and machine learning-based approaches (reinforcement learning deep neural networks) are analyzed and compared in terms of energy distribution efficiency computational demand system complexity and real-time performance. The review also addresses emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and multi-energy collaborative control. The outcomes highlight the main bottlenecks in current strategies their engineering applicability and potential for improvement. This study provides theoretical guidance and practical reference for the design implementation and advancement of intelligent and adaptive energy management systems in FCEVs contributing to the broader goal of efficient and low-carbon vehicle operation.
The Effect of Jet-Induced Disturbances on the Flame Characteristics of Hydrogen–Air Mixtures
Oct 2025
Publication
To mitigate explosion hazards arising from hydrogen leakage and subsequent mixing with air the injection of inert gases can substantially diminish explosion risk. However prevailing research has predominantly characterized inert gas dilution effects on explosion behavior under quiescent conditions largely neglecting the turbulence-mediated explosion enhancement inherent to dynamic mixing scenarios. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the combustion behavior of 30% 50% and 70% H2-air mixtures subjected to jet-induced (CO2 N2 He) turbulent flow incorporating quantitative characterization of both the evolving turbulent flow field and flame front dynamics. Research has demonstrated that both an increased H2 concentration and a higher jet medium molecular weight increase the turbulence intensity: the former reduces the mixture molecular weight to accelerate diffusion whereas the latter results in more pronounced disturbances from heavier molecules. In addition when CO2 serves as the jet medium a critical flame radius threshold emerges where the flame propagation velocity decreases below this threshold because CO2 dilution effects suppress combustion whereas exceeding it leads to enhanced propagation as initial disturbances become the dominant factor. Furthermore at reduced H2 concentrations (30–50%) flow disturbances induce flame front wrinkling while preserving the spherical geometry; conversely at 70% H2 substantial flame deformation occurs because of the inverse correlation between the laminar burning velocity and flame instability governing this transition. Through systematic quantitative analysis this study elucidates the evolutionary patterns of both turbulent fields and flame fronts offering groundbreaking perspectives on H2 combustion and explosion propagation in turbulent environments.
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