Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMON (Development of a next generation AMmONia FC system)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
AMON project aims at developing a novel system for the utilization and conversion of ammonia into electric power at high efficiency using a solid oxide fuel cell. High temperature electrolysers have demonstrated in several activities the capacity to outreach high performances in lab scale prototypes and validation tests.
The project will deal with the design of the basic components of the system including the fuel cell, the ammonia cracker, the ammonia burner and an anode gas recirculation, the engineering of the whole Balance of Plants, and the validation of the compliance with ammonia use for all the specific parts and components.
For the development of the solid oxide fuel cell, a G8X cell from SOLIDpower will be utilized, first validated in a laboratory at the level of single cells, for electrochemical properties, degradation and post mortem analysis, at the level of single repeating units for the validation of interconnects and sealing components, and at the level of stacks and stack modules.
An overall Ammonia fuel cell system will be engineered and manufactured to be tested in a relevant environment in a port area.
The final system will be in the size of 8 kW stack module, with an ammonia cracker and a heat management system. It will aim at a overall electrical efficiency in the range of 70%.
AMON will be supported alongside the engineering by horizontal strategic support on critical and open issues involving use of ammonia with fuel cells, such as safety assessment, on techno-econmic analysis, on modelling at a multiscale and multiphysic levels, to consolidate, confirm and direct the engineering of the technology.
Despite the small pilot demostration scale, AMON will propose a scaled engineering for a system suitable to be applied in end uses such as ports, interports, maritime environment, besides autonomous power systems. AMON will promote the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, to enhance the flexibility of the energy system.
The project will deal with the design of the basic components of the system including the fuel cell, the ammonia cracker, the ammonia burner and an anode gas recirculation, the engineering of the whole Balance of Plants, and the validation of the compliance with ammonia use for all the specific parts and components.
For the development of the solid oxide fuel cell, a G8X cell from SOLIDpower will be utilized, first validated in a laboratory at the level of single cells, for electrochemical properties, degradation and post mortem analysis, at the level of single repeating units for the validation of interconnects and sealing components, and at the level of stacks and stack modules.
An overall Ammonia fuel cell system will be engineered and manufactured to be tested in a relevant environment in a port area.
The final system will be in the size of 8 kW stack module, with an ammonia cracker and a heat management system. It will aim at a overall electrical efficiency in the range of 70%.
AMON will be supported alongside the engineering by horizontal strategic support on critical and open issues involving use of ammonia with fuel cells, such as safety assessment, on techno-econmic analysis, on modelling at a multiscale and multiphysic levels, to consolidate, confirm and direct the engineering of the technology.
Despite the small pilot demostration scale, AMON will propose a scaled engineering for a system suitable to be applied in end uses such as ports, interports, maritime environment, besides autonomous power systems. AMON will promote the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, to enhance the flexibility of the energy system.
The project started in January 2023. In the first 18 months of the project, the following results have been achieved:
- A conceptual system design, which both provides the targeted efficiency >70 % and a safe system without so-called nitriding was developed
- A multiscale multiphysics model concept was developed to more precisely foresee possible challenges and obtain designs to avoid these
- Single cell testing has been implemented at EPFL
- Single repeating unit test setup for testing ammonia-fueled SOFC has been implemented by DTU
- Experimental and numerical investigation of ammonia cracking has been carried out
- High temperature tolerant low pressure drop heat exchanger has been developed by ALSW.
- Technology for coating stainless steel with high surface area metal oxide has been developed and currently is being optimized to coat heat exchanger core plates.
- A static Matlab model has been developed and based on that a P&I diagram has been proposed.
- Health and safety aspects have been incorporated in the P&I diagram. Sourcing discussions have been initiated for unique components.
- A P&ID has been prepared, analysis on heat exchangers were done, selection of equipment was initiated.
- Visual identity and logo of the AMON project and creation of a communication toolkit
- Design, launch and active management of the project website and social media channels (Twitter and LinkedIn)
- Active presence of AMON at several confernces, fairs and workshops. AMON is meanwhile very well known in the FCH community and in active exchange with familiar relevant projects. Due to fruitful collaborations has AMON already achieve some awareness in the field of end users, ammonia stakeholders and in the martim sector.
- Significant progress has been made towards having the AMON project as part of a standardization discussion, where the proposal of Ammonia to be included in the IEC 62282-3-100 “Fuel cell technologies – Part 3-100: Stationary fuel cell power systems – Safety” revision.
- The project Management body and structure were set up and a detailed implementation plan was prepared
- Five members of the End-User Advisory Board were selected.
- A conceptual system design, which both provides the targeted efficiency >70 % and a safe system without so-called nitriding was developed
- A multiscale multiphysics model concept was developed to more precisely foresee possible challenges and obtain designs to avoid these
- Single cell testing has been implemented at EPFL
- Single repeating unit test setup for testing ammonia-fueled SOFC has been implemented by DTU
- Experimental and numerical investigation of ammonia cracking has been carried out
- High temperature tolerant low pressure drop heat exchanger has been developed by ALSW.
- Technology for coating stainless steel with high surface area metal oxide has been developed and currently is being optimized to coat heat exchanger core plates.
- A static Matlab model has been developed and based on that a P&I diagram has been proposed.
- Health and safety aspects have been incorporated in the P&I diagram. Sourcing discussions have been initiated for unique components.
- A P&ID has been prepared, analysis on heat exchangers were done, selection of equipment was initiated.
- Visual identity and logo of the AMON project and creation of a communication toolkit
- Design, launch and active management of the project website and social media channels (Twitter and LinkedIn)
- Active presence of AMON at several confernces, fairs and workshops. AMON is meanwhile very well known in the FCH community and in active exchange with familiar relevant projects. Due to fruitful collaborations has AMON already achieve some awareness in the field of end users, ammonia stakeholders and in the martim sector.
- Significant progress has been made towards having the AMON project as part of a standardization discussion, where the proposal of Ammonia to be included in the IEC 62282-3-100 “Fuel cell technologies – Part 3-100: Stationary fuel cell power systems – Safety” revision.
- The project Management body and structure were set up and a detailed implementation plan was prepared
- Five members of the End-User Advisory Board were selected.
AMON will have ten results, which will contribute to the achievement of the expected outcomes and impact, and specific objectives.
The results are:
R1 – Ammonia FC system design
R2 – Testing protocols defined
R3 – Single components validated
R4 – Final layout fixed (P&ID)
R5 – AMON technology tested in LAB
R6 – AMON technology validated in relevant environment
R7 – Safety Analysis and Pre-certification
R8 – Scaling up of AMON and TEA
R9 – Market analysis and Business case
R10 – Knowledge exchanger (Scientific papers, 2 Insights, Exploitation workshops, Events, EU- focused webinars, etc.)
The specific objectives of AMON are to:
SO1 Design and develop a fuel cell stack module at a scale of 8 kWel, tested and qualified to convert (directly or through an integrated ammonia reformer) ammonia into power, possibly using the internal reforming capacity of a solid oxide cell operating at high temperature and managing the power output through the control of the cell fuel utilization. The stack module will be qualified through cell testing (electrochemical, long term and posttest analysis), SRU testing (to qualify interconnecting materials to ammonia), single stack testing (to qualify long term durability, optimization of cell control and fuel utilization, heat balance), and full stack module testing (to qualify and test the specific module operating modes and qualify the stack highest efficiency and specific control strategy).
SO2 Qualify a system 100% tolerant to ammonia in all the components and related materials, including heat exchangers, burner and potential reformers and anode gas recirculation, as well as the fuel cell in all the building materials, layers and interconnects.
SO3 Target 70% system electric efficiency, pursued by the optimal use of the cell to reduce heat generation and consumption and leveraging the fuel utilization to a maximum, integrating novel solutions such as anode gas recirculation to eventually be utilized.
SO4 Validate the stack and system flexibility to allow for 30% partial load and full flexibility in the overall range.
SO5 Qualify the system for at least 3000 hrs operation with demonstrated 90% availability in the operating hours and less than 3% degradation rate at nominal power condition measured over 1000 hours of continuous operation.
The results are:
R1 – Ammonia FC system design
R2 – Testing protocols defined
R3 – Single components validated
R4 – Final layout fixed (P&ID)
R5 – AMON technology tested in LAB
R6 – AMON technology validated in relevant environment
R7 – Safety Analysis and Pre-certification
R8 – Scaling up of AMON and TEA
R9 – Market analysis and Business case
R10 – Knowledge exchanger (Scientific papers, 2 Insights, Exploitation workshops, Events, EU- focused webinars, etc.)
The specific objectives of AMON are to:
SO1 Design and develop a fuel cell stack module at a scale of 8 kWel, tested and qualified to convert (directly or through an integrated ammonia reformer) ammonia into power, possibly using the internal reforming capacity of a solid oxide cell operating at high temperature and managing the power output through the control of the cell fuel utilization. The stack module will be qualified through cell testing (electrochemical, long term and posttest analysis), SRU testing (to qualify interconnecting materials to ammonia), single stack testing (to qualify long term durability, optimization of cell control and fuel utilization, heat balance), and full stack module testing (to qualify and test the specific module operating modes and qualify the stack highest efficiency and specific control strategy).
SO2 Qualify a system 100% tolerant to ammonia in all the components and related materials, including heat exchangers, burner and potential reformers and anode gas recirculation, as well as the fuel cell in all the building materials, layers and interconnects.
SO3 Target 70% system electric efficiency, pursued by the optimal use of the cell to reduce heat generation and consumption and leveraging the fuel utilization to a maximum, integrating novel solutions such as anode gas recirculation to eventually be utilized.
SO4 Validate the stack and system flexibility to allow for 30% partial load and full flexibility in the overall range.
SO5 Qualify the system for at least 3000 hrs operation with demonstrated 90% availability in the operating hours and less than 3% degradation rate at nominal power condition measured over 1000 hours of continuous operation.