High Performance Center - Green Materials for Hydrogen, Hesse
High Performance Center - Green Materials for Hydrogen, Hesse

Research projects

Real-Time Power Supply for eFuels (RePoSe)

According to scientific and political consensus, the production of power-to-liquid (PtL) only makes ecological sense if renewable electricity is used. The challenge with so-called "green" electricity, however, is that in Germany the energy generated in this way is not continuously available, as it is mainly obtained from wind power and photovoltaic systems. There is a need for further expansion here. The RePoSe project is dedicated to the goal of researching the operation of a power-to-liquid plant with variable power availability and supply and to verify the theoretical concept on the basis of the practical operation of such a plant.

Essential aspects to be investigated are the optimization of the size of the hydrogen buffer storage, the effects of different current profiles and the use of short-term power forecasts for the control of the entire plant and the interaction of buffer storage and semi-variable production, the analysis of the degeneration of functional materials and the analysis of the stressed system components from the real use phase with regard to aging and damage mechanisms.

Sensor-based structural monitoring of automotive hydrogen fiber composite pressure vessels

Hydrogen can be the cornerstone of climate-neutral, sustainable mobility. The project develops technologies for automated condition monitoring for high-pressure storage systems. Pressure vessels can thus be operated more economically without having to compromise on safety. The aim is, for example, to distinguish between critical and non-critical events in operation. Compared to the purely regular replacement or a superficial visual inspection, unnecessary costs are avoided and safety is increased. In this way, essential prerequisites for the further spread of hydrogen technology will be created.

Elastomer seals for use in H2 transport

The focus of the joint project is on the identification and development of suitable elastomer materials for use in the field of hydrogen transport via pipeline systems and tankers. On the one hand, a fundamental understanding of the material behavior under the influence of hydrogen is to be developed. On the other hand, the targeted selection of fillers and additives is intended to optimize the elastomers with regard to sorption, permeation and swelling under hydrogen atmosphere. In addition, elastomer systems that are already used in natural gas pipelines are to be examined for their suitability for use with hydrogen and, if necessary, qualified.

NEXT GENERATION PLASMA CONVERSION: Integration of green hydrogen into the plasma conversion of CO2

The joint project NexPlas aims at the combination of plasma and membrane processes for the synthesis of basic chemicals such as methanol from CO2 and "green hydrogen". The research team focuses on the production of ceramic membrane materials from recycled materials and the recycling of membrane materials as well as the understanding of the interaction of H2 and CO2 with the membranes.

Fraunhofer IWKS launches "BReCycle" project for efficient recycling of fuel cells

More sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for energy conversion, such as fuel cells, will play an increasingly important role in the course of the energy and mobility transition. Due to the high proportion of valuable technology metals and ecological considerations, efficient recycling of materials contained in PEM fuel cells is necessary. However, a recycling process tailored to fuel cells is currently not available on an industrial scale. This challenge is now being met by a consortium led by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Material Cycles and Resource Strategy IWKS as part of the "BReCycle" project.

»Hy2Design« Material qualification under compressed hydrogen

In the case of hydrogen and lightweight materials, vibration corrosion cracking can occur, which leads to a strong reduction in fatigue strength. Especially in the development of design concepts for biofuel/compressed hydrogen exposed components as well as corrosion-prone lightweight materials, the reduction of the load on external loads due to corrosive ambient media must be urgently considered.

Plasma-induced CO2 conversion for the storage of renewable energies

In the project, CO2 was split into CO and oxygen radicals in a plasma with the help of microwave radiation. This mixture was separated directly by means of ceramic membranes and thus provided the CO as a building block for synthesis gas. Concepts for extending the operating time of the membranes were investigated. An essential point for this is the understanding of membrane-plasma or membrane-gas interactions. Non-explosive mixtures of argon and hydrogen were often used as a non-toxic alternative to CO to analyze possible reductive attacks on the membrane material.

Photoelectrocatalytic Anion Substituted Perovskites

Investigation of the photo(electro)catalytic splitting of water by (sun) light to produce "green" hydrogen. For this purpose, colored perovskite-like oxynitrides of the general composition AB (O, N) 3 are used. The relationship between synthesis conditions in ammonolysis, resulting nitrogen content, defect concentration and effective band gap was investigated.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 for the production of fuels (CO2Fuel)

Investigation of the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by means of H2 and light at ambient temperature as well as synthesis and characterization of the photocatalysts Ba2In2–xCrxO5 based on the brownmillerite structure · y(H2O).

Reduction of cyclic load capacity due to the influence of hydrogen

Hydrogen embrittlement, lifetime estimation Fraunhofer LBF supports companies from the fields of transport, energy and mechanical and plant engineering in the development of reliable, lightweight and efficient products that are loaded with hydrogen. For this purpose, customer-specific or individual analysis and test concepts are used in order to meet the increased requirements for fatigue strength verification and to optimally map the real operating conditions.