Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization - Office of ...
Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization - Office of ...
Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization - Office of ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
alkaline electrolyzers require a mixing tank <strong>for</strong> KOH, which the polymer electrolyzers do not. In<br />
the comparison <strong>of</strong> hydrogen production methods described below, adjustments in efficiency and<br />
cost numbers must be made <strong>for</strong> these differences.<br />
State <strong>of</strong> the Technology<br />
The state <strong>of</strong> the technology in electrolytic systems is summarized in Table 3, where the<br />
per<strong>for</strong>mance characteristics are listed <strong>for</strong> a representative array <strong>of</strong> commercial electrolysis<br />
systems (NRC and NAE 2004). The data in this table have been derived from Ivy 2004, and<br />
NRC and NAE 2004. The daily production <strong>of</strong> H2 <strong>for</strong> these systems ranges from 10 kg to<br />
1,000 kg. With the exception <strong>of</strong> the Proton product, all <strong>of</strong> the electrolyzers shown are alkaline<br />
systems.<br />
In the Proton HOGON 380 PEM system, the highest conversion efficiency <strong>of</strong> electricity to<br />
molecular hydrogen is attained: 95% <strong>of</strong> the current flow results in the production <strong>of</strong> hydrogen<br />
from water. In the alkaline systems, a lower figure near 80% holds. The balance goes to side<br />
reactions. The overall system energy required to produce hydrogen ranges from 53.4 to<br />
72.4 kWh/kg. These figures include the entire energy requirement <strong>for</strong> hydrogen production,<br />
including the electrolyzer, compressor, and the other ancillary equipment depicted in the process<br />
diagram shown in Figure 70. For the Stuart and the Norsk examples, the fraction <strong>of</strong> the system<br />
energy attributable to the electrolyzer is seen to run about 83–89%. The overall system efficiency<br />
is the energy stored as hydrogen per unit input <strong>of</strong> energy expended. This result utilizes the higher<br />
heating value <strong>for</strong> hydrogen <strong>of</strong> 39 kWh/kg.<br />
Table 3 Per<strong>for</strong>mance Characteristics <strong>of</strong> Commercial Electrolyzers<br />
Electrolyzer<br />
Brand and Model<br />
H2<br />
Production<br />
(kg/day)<br />
H2/H2O<br />
Product/<br />
Reactant<br />
(%)<br />
System<br />
<strong>Energy</strong>*<br />
(kWh/kg)<br />
206<br />
Electrolyzer<br />
Portion <strong>of</strong><br />
System<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> (%)<br />
Overall<br />
System<br />
Efficiency†<br />
(%)<br />
System Power<br />
Requirement<br />
(kW)<br />
Stuart IMET 1000 130 80 55.7 83 70 288<br />
Teledyne EC –750 91 80 64.6 - 60 235<br />
Proton: HOGON 380<br />
(PEM)<br />
22 95 72.4 - 54 63<br />
Norsk Hydro type<br />
5040<br />
1040 80 53.5 89 73 2330<br />
Avalence: Hydr<strong>of</strong>iller 11 89 62.8 - 62 25<br />
* Includes a 2.3 kWh/kg adjustment <strong>for</strong> compression <strong>of</strong> the H2 to 6,000 psi (NRC and NAE 2004).<br />
† Assumes a higher heating value (HHV) <strong>of</strong> 39 kWh/kg <strong>for</strong> H2.