Resources
Material and energy flows for power-to-systems and hydrogen production: electricity, heat and educts (water, carbon or CO2 source e.g. from biomass, waste, cement industry etc.)
Investigation of CO2 separation processes, electrolysis for hydrogen production and the provision of carbon-containing synthesis gases from e.g. Biomass.
Production of hydrogen-containing synthesis gases by means of CO2 filtration from air, water and renewable electricity with high temperature co-electrolysis
The research focus of the Institute of Plant and Process Technology is on hydrogen production using various water electrolysis technologies and steam reforming of biogas. This hydrogen serves as feedstock for the synthesis of various hydrogen derivatives. To better assess electricity-based hydrogen and integrated processes, they are compared to conventional production methods based on fossil resources such as natural gas.
In addition to green hydrogen production in Germany and the necessary upscaling of electrolysis technologies, the import of hydrogen and its derivatives is required to meet current and future hydrogen demand. In this context, the institute is working on the recovery of hydrogen from ammonia at a desired location through a process known as Ammonia Cracking.
Website: Research at APT
Contact: Sebastian Rehfeldt
Biogenic Hydrogen Production with Innovative Distribution Logistics
The joint project "BioH2Log - Biogenic Hydrogen Production with Innovative Distribution Logistics", which started in January 2023, supports the development of dynamic models, so-called digital twins, for the production, storage, and distribution logistics of green hydrogen. Participating partners from the industry are Takeoff Engineering and Arcanum Energy, and from the Technical University of Munich the Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics, and the Chair of Plant and Process Technology.
In this project, the green hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of biogas. For this purpose, the sister project "BioH2Ref" started in January 2022 intending to develop a pilot plant for the production of hydrogen from biogas. For this purpose, the developed plant with a capacity of 100 kg of hydrogen per day will be installed and operated on a test location at the Schleupen biogas farm in Krefeld.
As part of the "BioH2Log" project, the measurement data from the "BioH2Ref" project will be used synergistically to develop a digital twin of the hydrogen production plant. In addition, data of the hydrogen storage and tank system will be recorded as part of a measurement campaign, which in turn will serve as the basis for modeling the hydrogen storage system. Furthermore, a digital twin for innovative distribution logistics of green hydrogen is developed. Here, the focus is on a model consisting of many decentralized production sites for biogenic hydrogen with many regional consumers, such as public transport vehicles.
Type: Collaborative project: BioH2Log - Biogenic Hydrogen Production with Innovative Distribution Logistics
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Funding code: 03EI5452B
Runtime: 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2025
Website: BioH2Log
Contact: Edwin Hirtreiter
Further information: Energetische Biomassenutzung: Details, BioH2Log - Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics, BIOH2LOG (youtube.com)
Series production and industrialization of integrated & sector-coupled electrolysis systems for water
The market scale-up of the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives, as well as hydrogen application technologies, is intended to be further accelerated according to the continuation of the German National Hydrogen Strategy. In Germany, at least 10 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity for green hydrogen production should be installed by 2030. This ambitious goal necessitates a significant upscaling of electrolysis technology, a challenge addressed in the flagship project H2Giga. Through mass production of electrolysis stacks and increased electrolysis plant capacities, investment costs can be reduced, which enhances the economic viability compared to conventional processes and later, in particular, impacts the hydrogen production costs in dynamic operation with reduced operating hours. Lower investment costs are also expected to open up new markets and facilitate the utilization of hydrogen in additional sectors.
The Institute of Plant and Process Technology is investigating the material and thermal process integration of green hydrogen produced through electrolysis into chemical production processes such as ammonia or methanol. At present, the focus is on the flexibilization of ammonia plants to enable an increasingly dynamic operation. Ultimately, integration possibilities and design parameters for electrolyzers are being identified to develop a requirement catalogue for the optimal integration of various downstream processes with water electrolysis. Additionally, additive manufacturing possibilities in the periphery of electrolysis plants are being explored.
To improve the theoretical models of PEM electrolysis, they are continuously updated according to the latest findings from the literature. However, literature datasets are often incomplete or significantly deviate from each other. To understand these variations and obtain experimental results at the stack level rather than the cell level, a 10 kW PEM electrolysis test rig is built within the project. The focus of the test rig is the investigation of undesired gas crossover of the product gases through the membrane under different operating conditions.
Type: Collaborative project H2Giga-SINEWAVE: Series production and industrialization of integrated & sector-coupled electrolysis systems for water
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Funding code: 03HY123F
Runtime: 01.06.2021- 31.03.2025
Website: H2Giga - SINEWAVE
Contact: Steffen Fahr, Michael Stadler, Johanna Hemauer
Further information: Hydrogen flagship project H2Giga
Ammonia cracking: Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier or intercontinental transport
The availability of large quantities of “green” hydrogen is crucial on the road to decarbonizing the German economy. However, as the national production of green hydrogen in Germany is not sufficient for the national decarbonization targets, the German government is relying on extensive imports from regions with cheap renewable energies. The conversion of hydrogen into ammonia, which has a high hydrogen density, makes sense for energy-efficient hydrogen transportation. The hydrogen is recovered from ammonia at the destination by means of ammonia cracking. The state of the art is that ammonia cracking has so far only been used industrially for small niche applications, with only small hydrogen flows (typical size: 1-2 tons per day). Against the background of national climate protection targets, the desired reduction in CO2 emissions and the tight supply situation for energy raw materials, the HyPAC research project aims to transform the German economy on a hydrogen basis. As part of HyPAC, a new process for producing hydrogen from ammonia is to be developed and demonstrated for the first time in a mini plant. The project aims at an industrial, easily scalable and energy-efficient ammonia cracking process to produce hydrogen on a large scale (ca. 500 tons per day) in high purity and at attractive price paths centrally and to provide it for large industrial customers, such as the chemical industry, hydrogen pipeline network or gas turbines.
As part of the project, the Institute of Plant and Process Technology is involved in the experimental investigation of catalysts and ideal process conditions. In addition, reactor and process models are being created to enable a techno-economic investigation. For this purpose, the entire process is simulated, taking energy integration into account. On this basis, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is carried out.
Type: Collaborative project: HyPAC – Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier or intercontinental transport
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Funding code: 03EI3088B
Runtime: 01.07.2023 – 30.06.2026
Website: HyPAC
Contact: Bruno Villela Pedras Lago
Supply of biomass-based synthesis gases for the production of synthetic fuels (simulative and experimental)
At LES, the provision of carbon-containing synthesis gases for the production of synthetic fuels is investigated using simulations and experiments within the framework of research projects.
A number of pilot plants for the gasification of waste and biogenic solid fuels are available for this purpose. The entire spectrum from gasification kinetics to the demonstration of the entire process chain is covered: biomass -> synthesis gas -> conversion.
Website: Research at LES
Contact: Sebastian Fendt
Chair of Technical Electrochemistry (TEC)
Electrolysis solutions for the production of hydrogen from renewable energy
In the field of Power-to-X, the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry is performing research on solutions for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers. By using renewable energies it is possible to produce green hydrogen via PEM water electrolysis. The research at the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry focusses on the design of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and of porous transport layers (PTLs) which are central components in PEM water electrolyzers. Topics include fundamental aspects (e.g. understanding of reaction mechanisms of novel catalyst materials) as well as applied research (e.g. reduction of catalyst loadings in MEAs, evaluation of MEA lifetime).
Website: Electrolysis research at TEC
Contact: Matthias Kornherr
Research, validation and implementation of "Power-to-X" concepts
Central research topics in the project network are: Electrolysis solutions for the production of H2 from renewable energy and further process routes.
A reduction in critical platinum group materials as well as an improved efficiency of PEM water electrolyzers are the main objectives of the research project.
Type: Project within the Kopernikus-Strategy of the BMBF
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Runtime: 09/2019-08/2022
Website: https://www.kopernikus-projekte.de/
Additional information: TUM Cooperation Project
Pushing PEM Fuel Cells to Their Full Potential - Materials Development and Porous Layer Design Guided by Advanced Diagnostic
The Sinergia project aims at creating a better fundamental understanding of mass transport limitations on the cathode side of a PEM fuel cell. The cathode reaction requires protons being transported to the active site via a proton conductive ionomer phase and oxygen being supplied through the gas phase, mediated by the gas diffusion and microporous layer. To improve the mass transport in these components, we investigate ionomer-support-interactions and identify the characteristic structural parameters of the microporous layer using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques.
Funding: Swiss National Foundation (SNF)
Runtime: 11/2018-10/2022
Contact: Anne Berger
Development of pore-optimized catalysts and catalyst layers for high-performance polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
Fuel cell evaluation of pore-optimized catalyst layers
To achieve the required energy transition in Germany, the focus areas in the field of innovative energy technology, which were set within the frame of the 7th energy research program's call for proposals "Innovationen für die Energiewende", have to be adhered to. Especially in the field of fuel cell research, a higher efficiency of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) should be achieved, while simultaneously reducing the use of active catalyst material and therefore minimizing costs.
These requirements should be met within the frame of this joint project by investigating and using pore-optimized catalysts for future high performance PEMFCs. The required long-term stability is extensively investigated by studies at the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry. The results of the project aim for a contribution to leverage hydrogen technologies like fuel cells and strengthen the German expertise in manufacturing core components for PEMFCs.
Funding: German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi)
Runtime: 10/2020-10/2023
Contact: Roberta Della Bella
Next Generation AutomotIve membrane electrode Assemblies
The goal of GAIA is the development of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with improved power density at high current densities as well as increased durability. In accordance with the defined cost reduction of the PEMFCs, the developed MEAs are also tested at elevated operation temperatures.
Funding: The GAIA project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 826097. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programm, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.
Runtime: 01/2019-12/2021
Website: https://www.gaia-fuelcell.eu/
Contact: Konstantin Weber