Real-Time H2 Purification and Monitoring for Efficient and Durable Fuel Cell Vehicles

Hydrogen and fuel cells (HFCs) offer multiple advantages, such as low urban pollution / CO2 emission, quiet operation, low self-discharge, high energy density and extended driving ranges. The technology simultaneously addresses many of the major energy and environmental challenges, and shows the flexibility to integrate the diverse/intermittent renewable energy sources that are increasingly installed across Europe and emphasized in EU "Horizon 2020" [1,2]. It is estimated that the HFC market will reach $3 billion with hydrogen demand from fuel cells > 140 million kg in 2030 [1]. However, the technology is not yet economically competitive with other fuel systems, e.g. gas turbines for balancing electrical grids, Li-ion batteries for domestic storage, nor high compression ratio diesel engines for transport. Two important factors contributing to the elevated costs of HFCs are: (1) the additional cost of high-purity H2 needed to extend asset lifetime, especially when the H2 is generated from diverse sources or supplied by an on-board hydride/hybrid tank; (2) the cost associated with the limited lifetime of HFCs due to impurity built-up or catalytic poisoning. Therefore, low-cost and in-line H2 purification and impurity monitoring are crucial for the reduction of H2 fuel costs and fuel cell running cost due to extended lifetime of the fuel cell stacks.

This multi-disciplinary proposal will seek to address both problems by: (1) developing low-cost and high performance in-situ H2 purification systems to reduce H2 fuel cost for HFCs; (2) developing low-cost, robust CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) gas sensors for real-time impurity monitoring both to reduce cell maintenance costs and extend the lifetime of HFCs. These two issues represent two critical impediments to the future of hydrogen technology.

Members of the consortium provide complementary expertise in hydrogen storage and purification [XG & AS], hydrogen fuel cells, including catalyst poisoning and other degradation phenomena [AS], development of gas/chemical microsensors [JG], as well as large project design and management [XG, JG]; thus enabling the consortium to develop an integrated approach to H2 purification and impurity monitoring offering novel design, fundamental analysis, and optimal integration of such devices for efficient, low-cost and high-purity hydrogen delivery. We propose to work closely with the HFC Hub, UKERC, and our industrial supporters, as well as other relevant agencies and scientists in the UK and internationally, to accelerate the technology transfer of HFCs to industry.

Key word: hydrogen fuel cell, purification, gas sensors, impurity monitoring

The positive impact of the proposed research is potentially far-reaching and global, as the aim of this project is to drive the development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technologies for clean transport and distributed power generation. Widespread adoption of HFC would represent a paradigm change in such area. The beneficiaries of this research therefore include all the stakeholders associated with hydrogen fuel cells: including domestic, commercial and industrial hydrogen fuel cell developers, end-users, distributors, equipment suppliers, regulators and policy makers as well as relevant research communities.

We will make advances in several key research areas, focusing on fabrication and characterisation of hydrogen purification systems, development of smart gas detection concepts and signal processing technologies for ppm level gas sensing and monitoring, diagnosis strategy for an integrated hydrogen purification and impurity monitoring systems. These are well suited for deployment and innovation for future hydrogen economy. A ready pathway to impact for the knowledge developed in the underlying integrated gas purification and sensing technologies is through our close link with the HFC Hub and relevant industrial partners, including Alsitek, Cambridge CMOS Sensors Ltd, and partners in the Scottish HFC Association.

The project has a strong industrial application focus. The developed low-cost hydrogen in-line purification and impurity monitoring system offers benefits of reduced fuel processing costs, reduced the maintenance cost, and enhanced lifetime of HFCs for transport, including passenger cars, public buses, train auxiliary power in urban areas, and low emission shipping. More importantly, the development outcome should quicken the industrial adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technologies. The wide use of clean hydrogen power technologies reduces direct CO2 emission, mitigating climate change, and reducing transport-related chemical and noise pollution, directly contributing to the well-being of mankind and the quality of life as a whole.

We commit to building a continuous and effective collaboration and knowledge transfer between the two research institutions and industry partners throughout the whole project, to enhance and maximize strengths and benefits. The UCL team has a strong background on hydrogen storage, gas purification/separation, while the Warwick partners have valuable and considerable experience on micro multi-gas sensor technologies, systems integration and optimization. Through collaboration and knowledge transfer, our team will share complementary strengths and common vision to develop a novel design and optimum integration of in-line hydrogen purification and impurity monitoring for an efficient, low-cost and low-carbon power system.

We will also contribute to the young scientists training and public engagement programmes, to disseminate our research impact to wider public.