Overview
The successful commercialization of Fuel cell technologies requires steady hydrogen supply. Steam Reformation of hydrocarbons and electrolysis of water are commonly available methods to produce hydrogen. However steam reformer works best in higher capacity systems, while the electrolysis requires more energy input for splitting water to hydrogen and oxygen due to its high over potentials. CFCT has now developed a method which combines aspects of both the processes to produce hydrogen from methanol - water mixture. The Centre has developed and demonstrated of a hydrogen generator of 1 Nm3 hydrogen per hour capacity. Currently, the development of 2.5 Nm3/hr PEM based ECMR with improved performance and reduced cost is under progress.
Key Features
- Energy consumption for Hydrogen production was found to be low, about 1/3rd of water electrolyzer.
- Hydrogen can be produced at much lower temperature and pressure, unlike methanol reformer
- The hydrogen produced is highly pure and Hydrogen separation steps are not required.
- Carbon based materials can be used for stack fabrication
Potential Applications
- ECMR can be integrated with renewable energy sources like wind, solar to store the energy in the form of hydrogen and it can be used in fuel cells.
- In Power station as coolant
- In Semiconductor industry as a reducing agent
- Meteorological Department (hydrogen as a lift gas to fill weather balloons.
Status
- Scaled-up from single cell to stack and prototyp system developed and demonstrated
- Performance was tested for extended duration at laboratory
Intellectual Property Development Index (IPDI)
Level
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10
Description
Basic concepts and understanding of underlying scientific principles
Shortlisting possible applications
Research to prove technical feasibility for targeted application
Coupon level testing in simulated conditions
Check repeatability/consistency
Prototype testing in real-life conditions
Check repeatability/consistency
Reassessing feasibility (IP, competition technology, commercial)
Initiate technology transfer
Support in stabilizing production
Status
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Basic concepts and understanding of underlying scientific principles | Shortlisting possible applications | Research to prove technical feasibility for targeted application | Coupon level testing in simulated conditions | Check repeatability/consistency | Prototype testing in real-life conditions | Check repeatability/consistency | Reassessing feasibility (IP, competition technology, commercial) | Initiate technology transfer | Support in stabilizing production |
| Status |
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- Exfoliated Graphite separator based Electrolyzer for Hydrogen generation”. K.S.Dhathathereyan, R.Balaji, K.Ramya, N.Rajalakshmi, L.Babu, R.Vasu, P.Sarangan, R.Parthasarathy, Indian Patent Application no. 3073/DEL/2013.
- Method of preparing gas diffusion layer for the electrode of ECMR cell for hydrogen generation” R.Balaji, N.Rajalakshmi, K.Ramya, R.Vasudevan, K.Sudalayandi, Indian Patent Application No: 201911030852
- Influence of ethyl acetate as a contaminant in methanol on performance of Electrochemical Methanol reforming (ECMR) for hydrogen production. N.Manjula, R.Balaji, K.Ramya, N.Rajalakshmi K.S.Dhathathereyan, A. Ramachandraiah, Int. J.Hydrogen Energy, 43(2) 2018, 562-568.
- Electrochemical methanol reformation (ECMR) using low cost sulfonated PVDF/ZrP membrane for Hydrogen Production,N.Manjula, R.Balaji, K.Ramya, N.Rajalakshmi K.S.Dhathathereyan, A. Ramachandraiah, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, Vol.22, P 2757-2765, 2018.
- Nitrogen doped graphene supported Pd as hydrogen evolution catalyst for electrochemical methanol reformation” Manjula Narreddula, R. Balaji, K. Ramya, N. Rajalakshmi, A. Ramachandraiah. Int. Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.44, P4582-4591,2019.
- Hydrogen Production by Electrochemical Methanol Reformation using Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane based cells. Manjula Narreddula, R. Balaji, K. Ramya, N. Rajalakshmi Int.J.Hydrogen Energy, Vol.45, P 10304-10312, 2020
- A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) cell and a method of producing hydrogen from aqueous organic solutions in pulse current mode” K.S.Dhathathreyan, R.Balaji, K.Ramya, N.Rajalakshmi. Indian Patent Application no. 3313/DEL/2012
- Studies on development of Titanium oxide Nano Tube (TNT) based ePTFE–Nafion–composite membrane for electrochemical methanol reformation, N.Manjula, R.Balaji, K.Ramya, K.S.Dhathathereyan,A.Ramachandraiah Int. J.Hydrogen Energy, 41 2016, 8777- 8784. 3.
- Palladium Nanoparticles as Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) electrocatalyst in Electrochemical Methanol Reformer K. Naga Mahesh, R. Balaji, K.S. Dhathathreyan. Int.J.Hydrogen Energy 41, 2016, 46-51