Hydrogen and ammonia technologiesfor zero-emission vesselsAnders Ødegård, SINTEF

Technology for a better society

SINTEF covers the whole H2 value chain

Technology for a better society

Materials development

& Characterization

Cell components &

production processesPerformance evaluation &

Lifetime predictions Module and Control System

Co Ni

H2 production IntegrationCircular Economy &

RecyclingFeasibility Studies

Multiscale modelling (from nano-scale to system level)

• World-class infrastructure for • Hydrogen/Battery technology

development• Testing of hydrogen/battery (hybrid)

systems• High temperature fuel cells also for NH3

• Open access (only operation cost)

• Close collaboration with industry

• International collaboration

• Financial support from:

Laboratories and test facilities

Advantages by using H2/NH3 & fuel cells

Technology for a better society

• Flexible in choice of fuels

• Modular and replaceable components

• System optimisation exploits technologies' advantages

• Retrofitting possible

Fuels and energy densities

Technology for a better society

• Conventional fossil fuels

Batteries

US Department of Energy (https://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-storage)

Fuels and energy densities

Technology for a better society

• Conventional fossil fuels

• Hydrogen in various states, incl system

Batteries

US Department of Energy (https://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-storage)

System

Fuels and energy densities

Technology for a better society

• Conventional fossil fuels

• Hydrogen in various states, incl system

• Liquid ammonia• Volumetric advantage

Batteries

US Department of Energy (https://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-storage)

System

Liquid Ammonia

Types of fuel cells

Technology for a better societyTechnology for a better society

Fuel cell type ElectrolyteOperating

temp.El. efficiency

(LHV)Total

efficiencyTypical stack

sizeAdvantages Challenges

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)

Perfluoro sulfonic acid

< 120 °C 50-60% 80-85% <1-100 kW

• Mature• Low temperature simplifies

BoP• Quick start-up and load

regulation

• Expensive catalysts• Sensitive to impurities in air

and fuel

Alkaline (AFC)

Aqueous potassium hydroxide in porous matrix, or alkaline

polymer membrane (APM)

<100°C 50-60% 1-100 kW

• Low cost• Low temperature simplifies

BoP• Quick start-up • Good cycling stability

• Sensitive to CO2 in fuel and air• Challenging electrolyte

management (KOH)• APM-type has poor electrolyte

conductivity

Phosphoric acid (PAFC)

Phosphoric acid in porous matrix or

imbibed in polymer membrane

150-200°C 40% 90% 5-400 kW• Higher tolerance for fuel

impurities• Long lifetime

• Expensive catalyst• Long start-up time• Sulphur sensitivity

Molten Carbonate (MCFC)

Molten lithium, sodium and/or

potassium carbonate in porous matrix

600-700°C 50% 85%300 kW – 3

MW

• Fuel flexibility and tolerance towards impurities

• High temperature heat available for CHP

• Long lifetime

• High temperature degradation of components

• Long start up time• Low power density• Limited tolerance towards

thermal cycling

Solid oxide (SOFC)

Yttria stabilized zirconia

500-1000°C 60% 90 -95% 1 kW – 2 MW

• Fuel flexibility and tolerance towards impurities

• High temperature heat available for CHP

• Solid electrolyte

• High temperature degradation of components

• Long start up time• Limited tolerance towards

thermal cycling

Types of fuel cells

Technology for a better societyTechnology for a better society

Fuel cell type ElectrolyteOperating

temp.El. efficiency

(LHV)Total

efficiencyTypical stack

sizeAdvantages Challenges

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)

Perfluoro sulfonic acid

< 120 °C 50-60% 80-85% <1-100 kW

• Mature• Low temperature simplifies

BoP• Quick start-up and load

regulation

• Expensive catalysts• Sensitive to impurities in air

and fuel

Alkaline (AFC)

Aqueous potassium hydroxide in porous matrix, or alkaline

polymer membrane (APM)

<100°C 50-60% 1-100 kW

• Low cost• Low temperature simplifies

BoP• Quick start-up • Good cycling stability

• Sensitive to CO2 in fuel and air• Challenging electrolyte

management (KOH)• APM-type has poor electrolyte

conductivity

Phosphoric acid (PAFC)

Phosphoric acid in porous matrix or

imbibed in polymer membrane

150-200°C 40% 90% 5-400 kW• Higher tolerance for fuel

impurities• Long lifetime

• Expensive catalyst• Long start-up time• Sulphur sensitivity

Molten Carbonate (MCFC)

Molten lithium, sodium and/or

potassium carbonate in porous matrix

600-700°C 50% 85%300 kW – 3

MW

• Fuel flexibility and tolerance towards impurities

• High temperature heat available for CHP

• Long lifetime

• High temperature degradation of components

• Long start up time• Low power density• Limited tolerance towards

thermal cycling

Solid oxide (SOFC)

Yttria stabilized zirconia

500-1000°C 60% 90 -95% 1 kW – 2 MW

• Fuel flexibility and tolerance towards impurities

• High temperature heat available for CHP

• Solid electrolyte

• High temperature degradation of components

• Long start up time• Limited tolerance towards

thermal cycling

Direct hydrogen, or NH3 + cracker

Direct ammonia

Several suppliers of fuel cell technologies

Technology for a better society

Several suppliers of fuel cell technologies

Technology for a better society

Suiteable, commercialNH3 crackers missing!!!

Example H2/NH3 maritime projects

Technology for a better society

HyOpt calculation example13

Challenges for hydrogen & ammonia

Technology for a better society

• High risk for early movers• Choice of technology and costs

• High cost and low availablity of fuels

• Further technology development required• Storage systems

• Ammonia cracker

• …

• Regulations, codes and standards; • Int'l cooperation and harmonisation

• Need for better understanding of safety related aspects

Technology for a better society