Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SINGLE (Electrified Single Stage Ammonia Cracking to Compressed Hydrogen)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-05-01 bis 2024-10-31
Due to its low energy density as a gas under standard conditions, hydrogen is better transported over long distances in liquid form or by bonding it with other molecules to create hydrogen carriers. Ammonia is emerging as a promising hydrogen carrier, with ammonia dehydrogenation (ADH) later used to recover hydrogen. The standard multistage process—ADH, separation, and compression—suffers from energy efficiency losses.
SINGLE aims to demonstrate a proton ceramic electrochemical reactor (PCER) that integrates ammonia dehydrogenation, hydrogen separation, heat management, and compression into a single stage. Combining these four process steps into a single reactor allows the technology to achieve unprecedented energy efficiencies, with a project target of demonstrating greater than 90% efficiency (High Heating Value) at the system level. The PCER-ADH technology will directly delivers purified, pressurized hydrogen at 20 bar.
SINGLE will showcase its innovation at a scale of 10 kg H2/day in a demonstration plant, paving the way for future scale-up systems ranging from small (e.g. fueling stations) to large, centralized deployments (e.g. at harbors).
SINGLE aims to demonstrate a proton ceramic electrochemical reactor (PCER) that integrates ammonia dehydrogenation, hydrogen separation, heat management, and compression into a single stage. Combining these four process steps into a single reactor allows the technology to achieve unprecedented energy efficiencies, with a project target of demonstrating greater than 90% efficiency (High Heating Value) at the system level. The PCER-ADH technology will directly delivers purified, pressurized hydrogen at 20 bar.
SINGLE will showcase its innovation at a scale of 10 kg H2/day in a demonstration plant, paving the way for future scale-up systems ranging from small (e.g. fueling stations) to large, centralized deployments (e.g. at harbors).
During the first eighteen-month phase, SINGLE optimized the catalytic membrane reactor and demonstrated improvements in ADH conversion efficiency at low temperatures. Reactor components were produced, assembled into stacks, and validated in Norway, demonstrating the reproducibility of the production process. Several ammonia-based degradation studies were conducted to select suitable alloys and ensure durability. The plant design was finalized, and assembly began in Spain.
To optimize hydrogen production in the context of fluctuating green energy loads, a multiphysics model of the cell was developed for advanced process control. Additionally, two preliminary value chains were established, and an initial life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted
To optimize hydrogen production in the context of fluctuating green energy loads, a multiphysics model of the cell was developed for advanced process control. Additionally, two preliminary value chains were established, and an initial life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted
At the 18-month mark, the project achieved the following results:
• Improved catalytic membrane reactor with enhanced performance.With high ammonia conversion at low temperature.
• Functional, full-sized reactor stack
• Surrogate model at the stack level, demonstrated as an effective alternative to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, enabling rapid adaptation to intermittent and time-varying renewable energy sources.
The full impact of these advancements will be better assessed once the full-scale demonstration plant begins producing hydrogen.
• Improved catalytic membrane reactor with enhanced performance.With high ammonia conversion at low temperature.
• Functional, full-sized reactor stack
• Surrogate model at the stack level, demonstrated as an effective alternative to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, enabling rapid adaptation to intermittent and time-varying renewable energy sources.
The full impact of these advancements will be better assessed once the full-scale demonstration plant begins producing hydrogen.