Publications

Operating chemical looping process at mid-temperatures (550-750 oC) presents exciting potential for the stable production of hydrogen. However the reactivity of oxygen carriers is compromised by the detrimental effect of the relatively low temperatures on the redox kinetics. Although the reactivity at mid-temperature can be improved by the addition of noble metals the high cost of these noble metal containing materials significantly hindered their scalable application. In the current work we propose to incorporate earth-abundant metals into the iron-based spinel for hydrogen production in a chemical looping scheme at mid-temperatures. Mn0.2Co0.4Fe2.4O4 shows a high hydrogen production rate at the average rate of ∼0.62 mmol.g-1.min-1 and a hydrogen yield of ∼9.29 mmol.g-1 with satisfactory stability over 20 cycles at 550 oC. The mechanism studies manifest that the enhanced hydrogen production performance is a result of the improved oxygen-ion conductivity to enhance reduction reaction and high reactivity of reduced samples with steam. The performance of the oxygen carriers in this work is comparable to those noble-metal containing materials enabling their potential for industrial applications.

Searching for efficient and robust non-noble electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation is extremely desirable for future green energy systems. Here we present the synthesis of integrated Ni-P-S nanosheets array including Ni2P and NiS on nickel foam by a simple simultaneous phosphorization and sulfurization strategy. The resultant sample with optimal composition exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a wide pH range. In alkaline media it can generate current densities of 10 20 and 100 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials of only −101.9 −142.0 and −207.8 mV with robust durability. It still exhibits high electrocatalytic activities even in acid or neutral media. Such superior electrocatalytic performances can be mainly attributed to the synergistic enhancement of the hybrid Ni-P-S nanosheets array with integration microstructure. The kind of catalyst gives a new insight on achieving efficient and robust hydrogen generation.

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies have experienced cycles of high expectations followed by impractical realities. This time around however falling renewable energy and fuel cell prices stringent climate change requirements and the discrete involvement of China are step changes. The combination of these factors is leading to realistic potential for hydrogen’s role in the Grand Transition.<br/>Having conducted exploratory interviews with leaders from all around the globe the World Energy Council is featuring eight use cases which illustrate hydrogen’s potential. These range from decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as heat industry and transport to supporting the integration of renewables and providing an energy storage solution.<br/>Dr Angela Wilkinson Secretary General and former Senior Director Scenarios and Business Insights: “Green and blue hydrogen can refresh those parts of the energy system transition that electrification cannot reach.”<br/>This Innovation Insights Brief is part of a series of publications by the World Energy Council focused on Innovation. In a fast-paced era of disruptive changes this brief aims at facilitating strategic sharing of knowledge between the Council’s members and the other energy stakeholders and policy shapers.

To identify the safety issues associated with hydrogen fuelling stations incidents at such stations in Japan and the USA were analyzed considering the regulations in these countries. Leakage due to the damage and fracture of main bodies of apparatuses and pipes in Japan and the USA is mainly caused by design error that is poorly planned fatigue. Considering the present incidents in these countries adequate consideration of the usage environment in the design is very important. Leakage from flanges valves and seals in Japan is mainly caused by screw joints. If welded joints are to be used in hydrogen fuelling stations in Japan strength data for welded parts should be obtained and pipe thicknesses should be reduced. Leakage due to other factors e.g. external impact in Japan and the USA is mainly caused by human error. To realize self-serviced hydrogen fuelling stations safety measures should be developed to prevent human error by fuel cell vehicle users.

The purpose of this research was to derive promising technologies for the transport of hydrogen fuel cells thereby supporting the development of research and development policy and presenting directions for investment. We also provide researchers with information about technology that will lead the technology field in the future. Hydrogen energy as the core of carbon neutral and green energy is a major issue in changing the future industrial structure and national competitive advantage. In this study we derived promising technology at the core of future hydrogen fuel cell transportation using the published US patent and paper databases (DB). We first performed text mining and data preprocessing and then discovered promising technologies through generative topographic mapping analysis. We analyzed both the patent DB and treatise DB in parallel and compared the results. As a result two promising technologies were derived from the patent DB analysis and five were derived from the paper DB analysis.

Hydrogen is expected to have an important role in decarbonising several parts of the UK energy system. This white paper examines the opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (H2FC) to contribute to clean growth in the UK.



We assess the strength of the sector by surveying 196 companies working in the area and using other key metrics (for example publication citations and patents). There is already a nascent fuel cell industry working at the cutting edge of global innovation. The UK has an opportunity to grow this industry and to develop an export-focused hydrogen industry over the next few decades. However this will require public nurturing and support. We make a series of recommendations that include:

• Creating separate national fuel cell and hydrogen strategies. These should take UK energy needs capabilities and export opportunities into account. There is a need to coordinate public R&D support and to manage the consequences if European funding and collaboration opportunities become unavailable due to Brexit.
• Creating a public–private “Hydrogen Partnership” to accelerate a shift to hydrogen energy systems in the UK and to stimulate opportunities for businesses.
• Putting in place infrastructure to underpin nascent fuel cell and hydrogen markets including a national refuelling station network and a green hydrogen standard scheme.
• Study what would constitute critical mass in the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors in terms of industry and academic capacity and the skills and knowledge base and consider how critical mass could be achieved most efficiently.
• Consider creating a “Hydrogen Institute” and an “Electrochemical Centre” to coordinate and underpin national innovation over the next decade.

This White Paper has been commissioned by the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (H2FC) SUPERGEN Hub to examine the roles and potential benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in delivering energy security for the UK. The H2FC SUPERGEN Hub is an inclusive network encompassing the entire UK hydrogen and fuel cells research community with around 100 UK-based academics supported by key stakeholders from industry and government. It is funded by the UK EPSRC research council as part of the RCUK Energy Programme. This paper is the second of four that were published over the lifetime of the Hub with the others examining: (i) low-carbon heat; (iii) future energy systems; and (iv) economic impact.

• Fuel cells can contribute to UK energy system security both now and in the future.
• Hydrogen can be produced using a broad range of feedstocks and production processes including renewable electricity.
• Adopting hydrogen as an end-use fuel in the long term increases UK energy diversity.

Hydrotreatment is an efficient method for pyrolytic oil upgrading; however the trade-off between the operational cost on hydrogen consumption and process profit remains the major challenge for the process designs. In this study an integrated process of steam methane reforming and pyrolytic oil hydrotreating with gas separation system was proposed conceptually. The integrated process utilized steam methane reformer to produce raw syngas without further water–gas-shifting; with the aid of a membrane unit the hydrogen concentration in the syngas was adjusted which substituted the water–gas-shift reactor and improved the performance of hydrotreater on both conversion and hydrogen consumption. A simulation framework for unit operations was developed for process designs through which the dissipated flow in the packed-bed reactor along with membrane gas separation unit were modelled and calculated in the commercial process simulator. The evaluation results showed that the proposed process could achieve 63.7% conversion with 2.0 wt% hydrogen consumption; the evaluations of economics showed that the proposed process could achieve 70% higher net profit compared to the conventional plant indicating the potentials of the integrated pyrolytic oil upgrading process.

This paper shows numerical investigation related to hydrogen-air deflagration venting. The aim of this study is to clarify the influence of concentration gradient on the pressure histories and peak pressures in a chamber. The numerical analysis target is a 27 m3 cubic chamber which has 2.6 m2 vent area on the sidewall. The vent opening pressure is set to be gauge 10 kPa. Two different conditions of the hydrogen concentration are assumed which are uniform and gradient. In the uniform case 15 20 25 30 and 35 vol.% concentrations are assumed. In the gradient case the concentration linearly increases from 0 vol.% (at the ground) to 30 40 50 60 70 vol.% (at the ceiling). The initial total mass of hydrogen inside the chamber is the same as the uniform case. Moreover three different ignition points are assumed: on the rear center and the front of the chamber relative to the vent. The deflagrations are initiated by a single ignition source. In most gradient cases the highest peak is lower than in the uniform case though the initial total mass of hydrogen inside the chamber is the same as in the uniform case. This is because the generated burned gas per time is smaller in the gradient case than in the uniform case. In 15 vol.% gradient case however the peak pressure gets higher than in the uniform case. This is because in 15 vol.% gradient case the burning velocity around the ignition point gets faster and the flame surface gets larger which induces larger amount of burned gas per time.

Sustainable secure and competitive energy supply and transport services are at the heart of the EU2020 strategy towards a low carbon and inclusive economy geared towards a reduction of 80% of CO2 emissions by 2050. This objective has been endorsed by the European Institutions and Member States. It is widely recognised that a technological shift and the deployment of new clean technologies are critical for a successful transition to such a new sustainable economy. Furthermore in addition to bringing a healthier environment and securing energy supply innovation will provide huge opportunities for the European economy.  However this paradigm shift will not be purely driven by the market. A strong and determined commitment of public institutions and the private sector together are necessary to support the European political ambition. The period 2014-2020 will be critical to ensure that the necessary investments are realized to support the EU2020 vision. In terms of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies significant investments are required for (a) transportation for scaling up the car fleet and building up of refuelling infrastructure needs (b) hydrogen production technologies to integrate renewable intermittent power sources to the electrical grid (wind and solar) (c) stationary fuel cell applications with large demonstration projects in several European cities and (d) identified early markets (material handling vehicles back-up power systems) to allow for volume developments and decrease of system-costs.<br/>This Report summarizes the sector’s financial ambition to reach Europe’s objectives in 2020.