fuel cells and hydrogen – development and demonstration of commercial fuel cell ... ·...

Fuel cells and hydrogen at VTT –Development and demonstration of commercial fuel cellsystems

Johan Tallgren, Olli Himanen

7.11.2018 VTT – beyond the obvious 1

Owned by

Ministry of

Economic

Affairs and

Employment

VTT – beyond the obvious

Established in

1942

258M€Net turnover and

other operating

income (VTT

Group 2017) 2,368

Total of personnel

(VTT Group

31.12.2017)

36%from abroad

(VTT Group

2017)

27%Doctorates and

Licentiates

(VTT Group

2017)

VTT is one of the leading research, development and

innovation organizations in Europe. We help our customers

and society to grow and renew through applied research. The

business sector and the entire society get the best benefit

from VTT when we solve challenges that require world-class

know-how together and translate them into business

opportunities.

Our vision

A brighter future is created through science-based

innovations.

Our mission

Customers and society grow and renew through

applied research.

Strategy

Impact through scientific and technological excellence.


Growth with

sustainable

innovationsGood life

Improved quality

of life and work

Industrial renewal

Innovations

empowering

industry

Resource

sufficiency

Prosperity from resource wisdom

Climate action

Clean energyfor the future

Opportunities

in the world

of huge

challenges

Safety and

securityResiliency in

turbulent world

07/11/2018 VTT – beyond the obvious 3

VTT’s Fuel cell solutions team

20 years of active history in PEMFC, SOFC, and electrolysis

20 members: 7 doctors, 10 researchers, 3 technicians

Mainly working with European and Finnish companies in EU-

projects and contract research

Currently we are coordinating 6 EU-

projects and participating in 14 projects

www.vttresearch.com/fuelcells


http://www.vttresearch.com/fuelcells

Fuel cells and hydrogen at VTT

Test facilities for SOFC/SOEC single cells, stacks and stack modules, as well as for

materials and BoP components. Test stations developed and built in-house, easy to

adapt for different geometries and test protocols.

10 kW SOFC power plant, also developed and built in-house. Operated more than

10000 hours, 54% efficiency from NG to electricity.

Test facilities for PEMFC – focus on hydrogen quality, system control, and PEMFC

applications

All activities supported by modeling (CFD, thermal, mechanical, etc.) from single

components to complete systems.


SOFC and SOEC research

Know-how and experimental facilities from stack materials to complete

systems

Currently we are developing and demonstrating SOFC and SOEC

technology with our customers and partners


Research example – qSOFC

Automated mass-manufacturing and quality assurance of SOFC stacks

Reduction of stack production cost to 1000 €/kW at 10 MW/year volume

Increase of production yield in all parts of stack manufacturing value chain

to above 95% by automation and quality assurance


Research example – InnoSofc

Design and manufacturing of a 50 kW SOFC system with 60% electrical

and 85% total efficiency

3.5 years project coordinated by VTT

System start-up in early 2019


Research example – DemoSOFC

175 kW bio-gas fuelled SOFC power

plant installed at waste water treatment

plant in Turin, Italy

First Convion 58 kW module installed in

October 2017, second being installed

• Electrical efficiency >50%, peaks of 55-56%

Significant replication potential → 23000

wastewater treatment plants in Europe,

to which 930-2550 MW SOFC power

suitable

Partners: Polito, Smat, Convion, Imperial

College London, VTT


Research example – ComSos

3.5 year FCH JU project. Volume 10.3 M€, EU contribution 7.5 M€.

Validate and demonstrate FC-CHP solutions in range of 10-12 kW,

20-25 kW and 50-60 kW (~25 units, tot. 450 kW)

Demonstrate system advantages, underlying business models and

customer key benefits

Partners: VTT (coordinator), Convion, SolidPower, Sunfire,

HTCeramics, Polito, Energy Matters


Research example – ReSOC system / BALANCE project

7 kWe SOEC / 1.5 kWe SOFC

• 0.2 kg H2/h

Stack operating temperature

700-750°C

2 CEA stacks with DTU cells

Hydrogen as fuel and product

• H2 to AC 50% (LHV)

• AC to H2 80% (LHV,

steam production excluded)


Customer example – Convion Oy

Convion has signed an agreement to deliver two C50

systems for Lempäälän Energia Oy´s smart grid

system. The systems will use Elcogen Oy stacks.

The smart grid system will combine 4 MW PV field,

battery storage, biogas engines and Convion’s C50s

to provide electricity and heat for an energy self-

sufficient industrial district

This project is based upon the good results of EU’s

Horizon2020/ FCH-JU project INNO-SOFC (671403)


© Lempäälän Energia Ltd

PEMFC system and hydrogen quality research

VTT has over 20 years of experience in PEMFC material, stack and system

development. Participated in several PEMFC stack development projects

Capability to characterize PEMFC stacks from 1 to 100 kW power range, both

short term and long term measurements

In system R&D, focus on hydrogen and air quality and cold climate issues

At the BoP component level focus is in

• ejector and ejector control system development,

• air filter characterization

• humidifier characterization


Research example – Stationary hydrogen PEMFC power plant

Partner

Kemira Chemicals (by-product hydrogen: 6100 ton/y)

Challenge

Increase the energy-efficiency of an industrial chlor-

alkali process by utilizing by-product hydrogen

Our solution

Design, assembly and site integration of a pilot 50 kW

fuel cell pilot plant

Operation and evaluation of the system as apart of

the customer’s process


Keränen T. et al., A 50 kW PEMFC pilot plant operated with industry grade hydrogen - System design and site integration, Fuel Cells, 2014Nikiforow K. et al., Modeling and experimental validation of H2 gas bubble humidifier for a 50 kW stationary PEMFC system, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2014

Research example – PEMFC system for back-up and off-grid applications

Development of an integrated power system

• Crude bioethanol as fuel

• Cost < 2 500 €/kW @ 500 units

• System efficiency > 30% and lifetime > 20 000 h

Extensive laboratory testing and field trial (~1000 h)

Roadmap for commercialization

http://pembeyond.eu/


Research example – Fuel cell vessel(FCH JU project Maranda)

165 kW PEMFC system installed on a

naval research vessel

• Hybridization with batteries

• Purpose: silent operation during

research, minor transit and maneuvering

• Gaseous H2 fuel system + air and

cooling systems

Project coordinated by VTT

Partners: PowerCell, ABB, Swiss

Hydrogen


Research example – Fuel cell bus (i.e. mobile laboratory)

Fuel cell hybridization of VTT City Bus Test Mule

• 16 kW PEMFC system

• 8 kg H2 storage, 350 bar, composite cylinder

R&D platform to test components


Research example –LOHCNESS project, Chemical hydrogen carrier

Parners

• Companies: Fortum, St1, Woikoski, Leppäkosken Sähkö, Aino Energia

• Research partners: VTT (coordinator), University of Helsinki

Work content

• LOHC feasibility screening (WP1)

• Catalyst development (WP2)

• LOHC demonstration (WP3)

http://www.vtt.fi/sites/lohcness

http://www.vtt.fi/sites/lohcness

Summary

VTT has 20 years of experience in fuel cell and hydrogen technology

• Mainly working with EU-funded projects and contract research

• Coordinating 6 EU-projects and participating in 14

• Extensive testing facilities

Focus on SOFC, SOEC and PEMFC technology

• Developed and demonstrated both stationary and mobile PEMFC applications

• Developed and demonstrated commercial SOFC stacks and systems

Reliable partner for both research and development of your fuel cell

application!


fuel cells and hydrogen – development and demonstration of commercial fuel cell ... ·...

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