incremental, forcing compromises between Capex and efficiency or between durability and operational flexibility. The CRT C-Cell has broken the paradigm: improving all four attributes in harmony. There is no longer a need to trade off Capex, Opex, flexibility, and stack life. Through rigorous laboratory testing, CRT is confident that its C-Cell can achieve an efficiency of 41.55 kWh per kg of hydrogen, based on DC power input at stack level. This high efficiency
Battery shown in discharge mode
e –
e –
Li +
e -
e -
Li +
Aluminium foil positive current collector
Copper foil negative current collector
e -
Li +
e -
Li +
e -
e -
Li +
Chiral nano-coating on cathode to align electron spin
Separator membrane, typically polyethylene or polypropylene, potentially coated with a protective layer such as aluminium oxide
Chiral nano-coating on anode to align electron spin
Lithiated graphite
Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), Lithium manganese oxide (LMO), Lithium iron phosphate (LF P ), Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) or Lithium nickel aluminium oxide (NCA)
Li ion conducting electrolyte + LiPF 6 in a mixture of carbonates, eg. dimethyl carbonate, ethylene corbonate
Figure 2 Lithium-ion battery with chiral-coated electrodes to control spin and increase efficiency
These two technologies will boost the prospects for electrolytic green hydrogen in refineries. Additionally, both can go beyond electrolysis to enhance other electrochemical processes, such as lithium-ion batteries and proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells (see Figure 2 ). Enabling green hydrogen deployment Green hydrogen business cases have been failing due to unacceptably high Capex, Opex, and installation costs. Only a small percentage of announced projects have come through final investment decision (FID). Major actors have withdrawn support for projects they previously championed. Many projects have failed to mature due to the high costs of hydrogen production. Furthermore, complexities with balance of plant (BoP) systems have layered on engineering, procurement and contracting (EPC) costs. The main costs of electrolytic hydrogen production are the green electrons and the capital cost of the electrolyser. In turn, the electrolyser cost includes its associated power management equipment, other BoP items, and project-related costs, such as installation. On top of these, come operating expenses, such as labour and maintenance costs for stack replacement due to degradation. Conventional electrolyser innovation has been
also results in reduced BoP power consumption and Capex savings, because heat removal costs are decreased significantly. The combination of Capex and Opex reduction leads to the lowest possible total cost of ownership. Hybrid electrolyser technology The principle of the C-Cell is based on a concept similar to that of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or a solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC). The foundation is a novel ceramic membrane supported on a metal substrate. The thickness of the membrane coating is less than 100 microns. The technology also draws on some fundamentals of alkaline water electrolysis. The C-Cell membrane-electrode has a high surface area to catalyse the oxygen evolution reaction. This is generally the rate-limiting step of classical electrolyser designs. The membrane- electrode is thinner than advanced alkaline diaphragms, resulting in lower ohmic resistance. Furthermore, the electrodes are highly effective, meaning they have a low kinetic resistance. These attributes contribute to the high efficiency of the technology by enabling operation above 100°C. The operating temperature is achieved without the need for waste-heat integration from an external source. All the heat required for efficient operation is generated in situ and in operando.
www.decarbonisationtechnology.com
46
Powered by FlippingBook