Applications & Pathways
Ammonia, Methane and Hydrogen for Gas Turbines
Aug 2015
Publication
Ammonia has been identified as a sustainable fuel for transport and power applications. Similar to hydrogen ammonia is a synthetic product that can be obtained either from fossil fuels biomass or other renewable sources. Since the 1960’s considerable research has taken place to develop systems capable of burning the material in gas turbines. However it is not until recently that interest in ammonia has regained some momentum in the energy agenda as it is a carbon free carrier and offers an energy density higher than compressed hydrogen. . Therefore this work examines combustion stability and emissions from gaseous ammonia blended with methane or hydrogen in gas turbines. Experiments were carried out in a High Pressure Combustion Rig under atmospheric conditions employing a bespoke generic swirl burner. OH* Chemiluminescense was used for all trials to determine reactivity of the radical. Emissions were measured and correlated to equilibrium calculations using GASEQ. Results show that efficient combustion can be achieved with high power but at very narrow equivalence ratios using both hydrogen and methane blends. Moreover low concentrations of OH radicals are observed at high hydrogen content probably as a consequence of the high NH2 production.
A Critical Review of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Systems for Automotive Applications: Components, Materials, and Comparative Assessment
Mar 2023
Publication
The development of innovative technologies based on employing green energy carriers such as hydrogen is becoming high in demand especially in the automotive sector as a result of the challenges associated with sustainable mobility. In the present review a detailed overview of the entire hydrogen supply chain is proposed spanning from its production to storage and final use in cars. Notably the main focus is on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) as the fuel-cell type most typically used in fuel cell electric vehicles. The analysis also includes a cost assessment of the various systems involved; specifically the materials commonly employed to manufacture fuel cells stacks and hydrogen storage systems are considered emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses of the selected strategies together with assessing the solutions to current problems. Moreover as a sought-after parallelism a comparison is also proposed and discussed between traditional diesel or gasoline cars battery-powered electric cars and fuel cell electric cars thus highlighting the advantages and main drawbacks of the propulsion systems currently available on the market.
New Control Strategy for Heating Portable Fuel Cell Power Systems for Energy-Efficient and Reliable Operation
Dec 2022
Publication
Using hydrogen fuel cells for power systems temperature conditions are important for efficient and reliable operations especially in low-temperature environments. A heating system with an electrical energy buffer is therefore required for reliable operation. There is a research gap in finding an appropriate control strategy regarding energy efficiency and reliable operations for different environmental conditions. This paper investigates heating strategies for the subfreezing start of a fuel cell for portable applications at an early development stage to enable frontloading in product engineering. The strategies were investigated by simulation and experiment. A prototype for such a system was built and tested for subfreezing start-ups and non-subfreezing start-ups. This was done by heating the fuel cell system with different control strategies to test their efficiency. It was found that operating strategies to heat up the fuel cell system can ensure a more reliable and energy efficient operation. The heating strategy needs to be adjusted according to the ambient conditions as this influences the required heating energy efficiency and reliable operation of the system. A differentiation in the control strategy between subfreezing and non-subfreezing temperatures is recommended due to reliability reasons.
Coordinated Planning and Operation of Inter Seasonal Heat Storage and P2G Devices Integrated to Urban Multi-energy System
Mar 2023
Publication
With the urbanization construction and the advancement of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals urban energy systems are characterized by coupling multi-energy networks and a high proportion of renewable energy. Urban energy systems need to improve the quality of energy use as well as to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. Inter-seasonal heat technology has satisfactory engineering application prospects in promoting renewable energy consumption and the energy supply of urban multi-energy systems. Considering inter-seasonal heat storage and electric hydrogen production a joint optimization method of planning and operation is proposed for the urban multi-energy flow system. First the operation framework of inter-seasonal heat storage and electric hydrogen production system is established which clarifies the energy flow of the urban multi-energy system. Secondly aiming at the goals of minimizing the equipment’s annual investment cost and the multi-energy system annual operation cost combined with the time series period division method a planning operation model has been established considering multi-objectives. Through case study it is shown that the proposed model can promote the renewable energy consumption and reduce the operation cost of the whole system.
Alternative Power Options for Improvement of the Environmental Friendliness of Fishing Trawlers
Dec 2022
Publication
The fishing sector is faced with emission problems arising from the extensive use of diesel engines as prime movers. Energy efficiency environmental performance and minimization of operative costs through the reduction of fuel consumption are key research topics across the whole maritime sector. Ship emissions can be determined at different levels of complexity and accuracy i.e. by analyzing ship technical data and assuming its operative profile or by direct measurements of key parameters. This paper deals with the analysis of the environmental footprint of a fishing trawler operating in the Adriatic Sea including three phases of the Life-Cycle Assessment (manufacturing Well-to-Pump (WTP) and Pump-to-Wake (PTW)). Based on the data on fuel consumption the viability of replacing the conventional diesel-powered system with alternative options is analyzed. The results showed that fuels such as LNG and B20 represent the easiest solution that would result in a reduction of harmful gases and have a positive impact on overall costs. Although electrification and hydrogen represent one of the cleanest forms of energy due to their high price and complex application in an obsolete fleet they do not present an optimal solution for the time being. The paper showed that the use of alternative fuels would have a positive effect on the reduction of harmful emissions but further work is needed to find an environmentally acceptable and economically profitable pathway for redesigning the ship power system of fishing trawlers.
Assessing the Performance of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Using Synthetic Hydrogen Fuel
Mar 2024
Publication
The deployment of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) is critical to achieve zero emissions. A key parameter influencing FCEV performance and durability is hydrogen fuel quality. The real impact of contaminants on FCEV performance is not well understood and requires reliable measurements from real-life events (e.g. hydrogen fuel in poor-performing FCEVs) and controlled studies on the impact of synthetic hydrogen fuel on FCEV performance. This paper presents a novel methodology to flow traceable hydrogen synthetic fuel directly into the FCEV tank. Four different synthetic fuels containing N2 (90–200 µmol/mol) CO (0.14–5 µmol/mol) and H2S (4–11 nmol/mol) were supplied to an FCEV and subsequently sampled and analyzed. The synthetic fuels containing known contaminants powered the FCEV and provided real-life performance testing of the fuel cell system. The results showed for the first time that synthetic hydrogen fuel can be used in FCEVs without the requirement of a large infrastructure. In addition this study carried out a traceable H2 contamination impact study with an FCEV. The impact of CO and H2S at ISO 14687:2019 threshold levels on FCEV performance showed that small exceedances of the threshold levels had a significant impact even for short exposures. The methodology proposed can be deployed to evaluate the composition of any hydrogen fuel.
Study on the Effect of Second Injection Timing on the Engine Performances of a Gasoline/Hydrogen SI Engine with Split Hydrogen Direct Injecting
Oct 2020
Publication
Split hydrogen direct injection (SHDI) has been proved capable of better efficiency and fewer emissions. Therefore to investigate SHDI deeply a numerical study on the effect of second injection timing was presented at a gasoline/hydrogen spark ignition (SI) engine with SHDI. With an excess air ratio of 1.5 five different second injection timings achieved five kinds of hydrogen mixture distribution (HMD) which was the main factor affecting the engine performances. With SHDI since the HMD is manageable the engine can achieve better efficiency and fewer emissions. When the second injection timing was 105◦ crank angle (CA) before top dead center (BTDC) the Pmax was the highest and the position of the Pmax was the earliest. Compared with the single hydrogen direct injection (HDI) the NOX CO and HC emissions with SHDI were reduced by 20% 40% and 72% respectively.
Techno Environmental Assessment of Flettner Rotor as Assistance Propulsion System for LH2 Tanker Ship Fuelled by Hydrogen
Nov 2022
Publication
This study presents a novel design and development of a 280000 m3 liquefied hydrogen tanker ship by implementing a set of 6 Flettner rotors as an assistance propulsion system in conjunction with a combined-cycle gas turbine fuelled by hydrogen as a prime mover. The study includes assessment of the technical and environmental aspects of the developed design. Furthermore an established method was applied to simulate the LH2 tanker in different voyages and conditions to investigate the benefits of harnessing wind energy to assist combined-cycle gas turbine in terms of performance and emission reduction based on engine behaviour for different voyages under loaded and unloaded normal as well as 6 % degraded engine and varying ambient conditions. The results indicate that implementing a set of 6 Flettner rotors for the LH2 tanker ship has the potential to positively impact the performance and lead to environmental benefits. A maximum contribution power of around 1.8 MW was achieved in the winter season owing to high wind speed and favourable wind direction. This power could save approximately 3.6 % of the combined-cycle gas turbine total output power (50 MW) and cause a 3.5 % reduction in NOx emissions.
Efficient Combustion of Low Calorific Industrial Gases: Opportunities and Challenges
Dec 2022
Publication
It is becoming increasingly important to develop effective combustion technologies for low calorific industrial gases (LCIG) because of the rising energy demand and environmental issues caused by the extensive use of fossil fuels. In this review the prospect of these opportunity fuels in China is discussed. Then the recent fundamental and engineering studies of LCIG combustion are summarized. Specifically the differences between LCIG and traditional fuels in the composition and fundamental combustion characteristics are described. The state-of-the-art combustion strategies for burning LCIG are reviewed including porous media combustion flameless combustion oxy-fuel combustion and dual-fuel combustion. The technical challenges and further development needs for efficient LCIG combustion are also discussed.
Hydrogen-powered Aviation in Germany: A Macroeconomic Perspective and Methodological Approach of Fuel Supply Chain Integration into an Economy-wide Dataset
Oct 2022
Publication
The hydrogen (H2) momentum affects the aviation sector. However a macroeconomic consideration is currently missing. To address this research gap the paper derives a methodology for evaluating macroeconomic effects of H2 in aviation and applies this approach to Germany. Three goals are addressed: (1) Construction of a German macroeconomic database. (2) Translation of H2 supply chains to the system of national accounts. (3) Implementation of H2-powered aviation into the macroeconomic data framework. The article presents an economy-wide database for analyzing H2-powered aviation. Subsequently the paper highlights three H2 supply pathways provides an exemplary techno-economic cost break-down for ten H2 components and translates them into the data framework. Eight relevant macroeconomic sectors for H2-powered aviation are identified and quantified. Overall the paper contributes on a suitable foundation to apply the macroeconomic dataset to and conduct macroeconomic analyses on H2-powered aviation. Finally the article highlights further research potential on job effects related to future H2 demand.
Future of Electric and Hydrogen Cars and Trucks: An Overview
Apr 2023
Publication
The negative consequences of toxic emissions from internal combustion engines energy security climate change and energy costs have led to a growing demand for clean power sources in the automotive industry. The development of eco-friendly vehicle technologies such as electric and hydrogen vehicles has increased. This article investigates whether hydrogen vehicles will replace electric vehicles in the future. The results showed that fuel-cell cars are unlikely to compete with electric cars. This is due to the advancements in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure which are becoming more cost-effective and efficient. Additionally the technical progress in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is expected to reduce the market share of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in passenger vehicles. However significant investments have been made in hydrogen cars. Many ongoing investments seem to follow the sunk cost fallacy where decision-makers continue to invest in an unprofitable project due to their already invested resources. Furthermore even with megawatt charging fuel-cell trucks cost more than battery-powered electric trucks. The use cases for fuel-cell electric trucks are also much more limited as their running expenses are higher compared to electric cars. Hydrogen vehicles may be beneficial for heavy transport in remote areas. However it remains to be seen if niche markets are large enough to support fuel-cell electric truck commercialization and economies of scale. In summary we believe that hydrogen vehicles will not replace electric cars and trucks at least before 2050.
Investigation of Pre-cooling Strategies for Heavy-duty Hydrogen Refuelling
Mar 2024
Publication
Green hydrogen presents a promising solution for transitioning from fossil fuels to a clean energy future particularly with the application of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). However the hydrogen refuelling process for FCEVs requires extensive pre-cooling to achieve fast filling times. This study presents experiments and simulations of a hydrogen refuelling station equipped with an adaptable cold-fill unit aiming to maximize fuelling efficiencies. For this purpose we developed and experimentally validated simulation models for a hydrogen tank and an aluminium block heat exchanger. Different pre-cooling parameters affect the final tank temperatures during the parallel filling of three 350 L type IV tanks. The results indicate significant potential for optimizing the required cooling energy with achievable savings of over 50 % depending on the pre-cooling strategy. The optimized pre-cooling strategies and energy savings aid in advancing the refuelling process for FCEVs effectively contributing to the transition to clean energy.
Enhancement of Microgrid Frequency Stability Based on the Combined Power-to-Hydrogen-to-Power Technology under High Penetration Renewable Units
Apr 2023
Publication
Recently with the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources into microgrid (µGs) power electronics distributed energy systems have gained popularity. However low inertia reduces system frequency stability and anti-disturbance capabilities exposing power quality to intermittency and uncertainty in photovoltaics or wind turbines. To ensure system stability the virtual inertia control (VIC) is presented. This paper proposes two solutions to overcome the low inertia problem and the surplus in capacities resulting from renewable energy sources. The first solution employs superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) which can be deemed as an efficient solution for damping the frequency oscillations. Therefore in this work SMES that is managed by a simple proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID) controller is utilized to overcome the low inertia. In the second solution the hydrogen storage system is employed to maintain the stability of the microgrid by storing surplus power generated by renewable energy sources (RESs). Power-to-Power is a method of storing excess renewable energy as chemical energy in the form of hydrogen. Hydrogen can be utilized locally or delivered to a consumption node. The proposed µG operation demonstrates that the integration of the photovoltaics (PVs) wind turbines (WTs) diesel engine generator (DEG) electrolyzer micro gas turbine (µGT) and SMES is adequate to fulfill the load requirements under transient operating circumstances such as a low and high PV output power as well as to adapt to sudden changes in the load demand. The effectiveness of the proposed schemes is confirmed using real irradiance data (Benban City Egypt) using a MATLAB/SIMULINK environment.
An Energy Balance and Multicriteria Approach for the Sizing of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System with Hydrogen Storage
Mar 2023
Publication
As the clamour for a Net Zero carbon energy economy increases it is necessary to harness the potential of renewable energies in powering buildings to lower fossil power plants' contributions to the overall energy mix. This paper aims to present an energy balance load sensitivity analysis and multi-criteria method for sizing a green energy system for powering two office complexes that house space research laboratories. The energy component considered includes battery storage (BAT) captive diesel generator (DG) fuel cell (FC) hydrogen storage (H2T) solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine. Using HOMER the techno-economic features and the hourly operational details of the energy components were obtained. The efficacy of Entropy- Additive Ratio Assessment was deployed on the outputs from HOMER to obtain the most preferred energy system based on more than one criterion. The result of the study indicates that the most preferred energy system for Abuja is a PV WD FC DG and BAT having a total net present cost (TNPC) of $220930. In contrast the most suitable energy system for the energy in the Anyigba office consists of PV FC and BAT with its TNPC at $106955.
Economic Evaluation of a Power-to-hydrogen System Providing Frequency Regulation Reserves: A Case Study of Denmark
Mar 2023
Publication
Operating costs are dominant in the hydrogen production of a power-to-hydrogen system. An optimal operational strategy or bidding framework is effective in reducing these costs. However it is still found that the production cost of hydrogen is high. As the electrolysis unit is characterized by high flexibility providing ancillary service to the grid becomes a potential pathway for revenue stacking. Recent research has demonstrated the feasibility of providing such a service but the related economics have not been well evaluated. In this work we propose a comprehensive operation model to enable participation in the day-head balancing and reserve markets. Three types of reserves are considered by using different operational constraints. Based on the proposed operation framework we assess the economic performance of a power-to-hydrogen system in Denmark using plentiful actual market data. The results reveal that providing frequency containment reserve and automatic frequency restoration reserve efficiently raises the operational contribution margins. In parallel by investing in the cash flows net present value and break-even hydrogen prices we conclude that providing reserves makes the power-to-hydrogen project more profitable in the studied period and region.
Hydrogenerally - Episode 7: Hydrogen for Heat
Dec 2022
Publication
In this seventh episode Steffan Eldred Hydrogen Innovation Network Knowledge Transfer Manager and Jenni McDonnell MBE Heating and Cooling Knowledge Transfer Manager from Innovate UK KTN discuss why using hydrogen to generate heat is so important and explore the hydrogen economy opportunities and challenges within this sector alongside their special guest Jeff House Head of External Affairs Baxi Boilers.
The podcast can be found on their website.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Ship Motion on Hydrogen Dispersion in an Enclosed Area
Apr 2023
Publication
This study aims to experimentally quantify the hydrogen diffusion characteristics by ship motion. Hydrogen leakage experiments were conducted under various ship motion conditions and the corresponding hydrogen concentrations for each sensor were expressed by an equation. The experimental facility was a scale model of the hydrogen fuel storage room of a ship. An experiment was conducted by implementing the roll and pitch motions of the ship as well as motion direction using a ship simulator. In the equation describing the hydrogen concentration the minimum and maximum root mean square deviations were 0.987 and 0.707 respectively and the correlations were 0.000109 and 0.0012289. Although the results differed as per the sensor location the hydrogen concentration was affected by the motion period of the ship. The experimental results and prediction equations can be useful for sensor and vent location selection by predicting the concentration when hydrogen leaks in ships in motion.
Green Hydrogen Supply Chain Risk Analysis: A European Hard-to-abate Sectors Perspective
May 2023
Publication
Green hydrogen is a tentative solution for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as steel chemical cement and refinery industries. Green hydrogen is a form of hydrogen gas that is produced using renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power through a process called electrolysis. The green hydrogen supply chain includes several interconnected entities such as renewable energy providers electrolysers distribution facilities and consumers. Although there have been many studies about green hydrogen little attention has been devoted to green hydrogen supply chain risk identification and analysis especially for hard-to-abate sectors in Europe. This research contributes to existing knowledge by identifying and analysing the European region’s green hydrogen supply chain risk factors. Using a Delphi method 7 categories and 43 risk factors are identified based on the green hydrogen supply chain experts’ opinions. The best-worst method is utilised to determine the importance weights of the risk categories and risk factors. High investment of capital for hydrogen production and delivery technology was the highest-ranked risk factor followed by the lack of enough capacity for electrolyser and policy & regulation development. Several mitigation strategies and policy recommendations are proposed for high-importance risk factors. This study provides novelty in the form of an integrated approach resulting in a scientific ranking of the risk factors for the green hydrogen supply chain. The results of this study provide empirical evidence which corroborates with previous studies that European countries should endeavour to create comprehensive and supportive standards and regulations for green hydrogen supply chain implementation.
Everything About Hydrogen Podcast: Plotting the Course for a Decarbonized Global Maritime Industry
Jan 2023
Publication
On this episode of EAH we sat down with Dr. Bo Cerup-Simonsen Chief Executive Officer of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. Bo holds a PHD in Naval Architecture and Mechanical Engineering and spent seven years as a research engineer at MIT.
Bo explains the Center's work and we discuss decarbonization of shipping using hydrogen derived green fuels.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Bo explains the Center's work and we discuss decarbonization of shipping using hydrogen derived green fuels.
The podcast can be found on their website.
Development of a New Renewable Energy System for Clean Hydrogen and Ethanol Production
Mar 2024
Publication
The present research work aims to present a uniquely designed renewable energy-based integrated system along with an equilibrium model for the processing of feedstock by following a hybrid route of thermochemical and biochemical ways. In this regard Canadian maple leaves and plastic wastes are selected as potential feedstocks for co-pyrolysis and syngas fermentation. The influence of co-pyrolysis process parameters on the overall system performance is investigated and assessed. Also several sensitivity analyses are performed to determine the optimal operating parameters that can generate maximum yields of hydrogen and ethanol. The present system is further investigated thermodynamically in terms of energetic and exergetic approaches and efficiencies. The present study shows that a molar flow ratio of 1:1 for maple leaves to plastic wastes a temperature of 1000◦C temperature and a pressure of 1 bar appear to be the most suitable operating conditions with the net production capacities of 7.43 tons/day for hydrogen and 8.72 tons/day for ethanol. The cold gas efficiency and LHV of the syngas produced are found to be 57.23% and 19.96 MJ/kg respectively. The overall energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the present system are found to be 30.98% and 26.88% respectively.
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