Energy Conversion Systems

Within the Power-to-X context, in the project DynElectro we focus on PEM water electrolysis, a promising technology for hydrogen production due to high current densities and the ability to respond quickly to dynamic power fluctuations. We are interested in understanding the essential degradation mechanisms, which influence the aging of the electrolyzer under different operating conditions. To be able to cope with the high complexity of the many intercoupled processes in the electrolytic cell, we rely on the combination of experimental investigation with mathematical modeling and simulation. The gained process understanding can be used to improve practical applications and mathematical models can serve as a basis for life time estimation and numerical optimization. [more]

In December 2019, the European Council endorsed the objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. Because of this transformation, large amounts of low-cost, surplus electrical energy (e.g. from wind farms and photovoltaics) are expected to become available periodically, depending on weather conditions. To assure efficient integration of this "green" energy, the existing infrastructures for energy supply must be extended by so-called Power-to-X (P2X) processes. However, the multitude of possible process pathways and target products (X) is often challenging to oversee and requires novel methods for process synthesis and process analysis. Moreover, such processes must be operated not only at a fixed nominal load, but at a wide range of different partial loads (load flexibility). The PSE group addresses these aspects to the production of gaseous target molecules methane (CH₄) and syngas (H₂/CO). [more]

To reduce the CO₂ emissions in process and energy supply industries, the massive use of renewable energy and the substitution of fossil-based feedstocks implementing efficient Renewables-to-Chemicals (R2Chem) conversion systems is essential. Due to the variety of feedstocks and process technologies, there are several potential pathways for converting renewable energy into valuable target products. [more]