Development of the optimum AGRAL cermet manufacturing process for aluminium inert anode application and fuel cell interconnect plates.

Objective

The AGRAL (Advanced Green Aluminium anode) project will aim at developing the manufacturing technologies of a specific cermet (called AGRAL cermet within this proposal) that has shown at lab scale outstanding properties in high temperature and corrosive media i.e. aluminium electrolysis. Furthermore, this AGRAL cermet enables Aluminium Pechiney, leader of this project, to consider the replacement of their current carbon anode by this inert anode thus decreasing to zero the CO2 emission during electrolysis process. Furthermore this AGRAL cermet will be tested for two applications: aluminium electrolysis (for the manufacturing of an inert anode up to industrial scale) and for protection of interconnect plates in hydrogen and fuel cell application (up to pre-prototype scale). This AGRAL cermet will be used as an inert anode in the Aluminium industry. Thanks to the inert anode, it is expected to decrease by a minimum of 50% of CO2 emissions compared to currently used carbon anode. Then, the transfer to the fuel and hydrogen cell applications will be studied.
To reach the objectives, the partners will aim at:
- Developing the manufacturing process for the AGRAL cermet coating for aluminium electrolysis
o The Thermal Spray coatings: HVOF (combined eventually with Cold Spray ) and eGun (HVOF with ethanol, technology developed by Flame Spray Technologies)
o The Powder Metallurgy Process : HIP and Ultraflex (technology developed by Kennametal Stellite)
The final manufacturing process will be adapted to large dimension (an anode is 1m long) and to complex shape (plates, grid).
- Developing qualification test for real scale inert anode to detect failure of the anode operation
- Developing the manufacturing process for the AGRAL cermet coating for hydrogen and fuel cell interconnect plates
The economic viability and the environmental impact of both the inert anode and its manufacturing process and the fuel cell application along their whole life cycle, will be monitored.

Field of science

• /engineering and technology/materials engineering/metallurgy
• /natural sciences/chemical sciences/electrochemistry/electrolysis
• /engineering and technology/materials engineering/coating and films
• /engineering and technology/electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering/electronic engineering/sensors/optical sensors
• /engineering and technology/environmental engineering/energy and fuels/fuel cell
• /engineering and technology/environmental engineering/energy and fuels/renewable energy
• /engineering and technology/environmental engineering/air pollution engineering
• /social sciences/economics and business/business and management/employment
• /natural sciences/chemical sciences/inorganic chemistry/inorganic compounds

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.2.1.5.3. - Sustainable, resource-efficient and low-carbon technologies in energy-intensive process industries

Topic(s)

• SILC-II-2014 - Sustainable Industry Low Carbon II

Call for proposal

H2020-SILC-II-2014
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IA - Innovation action

Coordinator

ALUMINIUM PECHINEY

Address

725 Rue Aristide Berges
38340 Voreppe
France

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

EU contribution

€ 2 250 961,51

Participants (8)

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.

Germany

EU contribution

€ 452 971,25

Address

Hansastrasse 27C
80686 Munchen

Activity type

Research Organisations

FLAME SPRAY TECHNOLOGIES B.V.

Netherlands

EU contribution

€ 433 554,67

Address

Dijkgraaf 40
6921 RL Duiven

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

France

EU contribution

€ 859 623,51

Address

Rue Leblanc 25
75015 Paris 15

Activity type

Research Organisations

ECOINNOVAZIONE SRL

Italy

EU contribution

€ 154 785,63

Address

Via Massimo D Azeglio 51
40123 Bologna

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

ECOLE NATIONALE D'INGENIEURS DE SAINT-ETIENNE

France

EU contribution

€ 354 500

Address

Rue Jean Parot 58
42023 Saint Etienne Cedex 2

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

CRONITE CZ SRO

Czechia

EU contribution

€ 198 282,50

Address

Skrobarenska 484/8
61700 Brno

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN

Germany

EU contribution

€ 402 238,38

Address

Templergraben 55
52062 Aachen

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

BODYCOTE SPECIALIST TECHNOLOGIES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

Germany

EU contribution

€ 125 228,68

Address

Schiessstrasse 55
40549 Dusseldorf

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)