The first phase of the project, mainly focused of design, development and test of materials and sub-systems:
• Appropriate hydrides were identified and produced for compression from 5 to 450 bar, ensuring the core performance of the MHC while using rare earth free metal alloys. Reactors were designed and tested for increasing performances (mechanical resistance, reaction kinetics, flow rates and compression ratios) allowing to demonstrate compression ratios of 10 to 35 at lab scale. All reactors were submitted to a comprehensive certification process. The MHC prototype was then carefully designed, with focus on heat and control systems.
• On the MC, key developments included optimization of component designs, internal cooling to reduce wear, improved materials and surfaces of the diaphragm to increase lifetime. All improvements were integrated in a prototype for laboratory, including new low-noise hydraulic relief valves and new balance-of-plant components.
The second phase of the project focused on assembly and tests of both prototypes which were tested under joint protocols to investigate their combined operation in the COSMHYC hybrid configuration.
- More than 4000h of tests were performed on the MC prototype demonstrating a capacity of more than 60 kg/h. Endurance tests demonstrated 10th of millions of cycles, with over 5000 start and stops. Pressure range of the MC is well in phase with the capacity of the MHC, allowing the combination of both compressors.
- The MHC reached the expected pressures stages. The partners were able to overcome technical issues related to BOPs, building know-how for further steps towards industrialisation. The prototype can work under the combined configuration as well as a standalone solution, meeting the requirements of end-users. The observed peak flow rate is up to 7 kg/h and the flow rate over 1 hour 2,2 kg/h. Long-term average flow rate range from a few 100s g/h to a few kg/h. These values are far higher that the state of the art of MHC.
The technologies reached very promising performances and the pertinence of combining both technologies was demonstrated. Results were presented during a final online dissemination event, with large attendance of industry experts, potential customers & end-users. A roadmap towards exploitation was established, focusing on commercial exploitation. The consortium also actively worked on next development steps with follow-up projects COSMHYC XL (developing the concept further for large scale applications) and COSMHYC DEMO (demonstration within an HRS operating in real life conditions). Finally, a start-up was created for commercial exploitation of the MHC.
