System for Recovery of Condensate from Fuel Cell Exhaust
Problem: Green hydrogen is seen as a key enabler of sustainable development, energy security, and economic growth, while contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. However, there are many challenges for adoption of green hydrogen economy. One of the most significant challenges is the large volume of fresh de-mineralized water required for Hydrogen generation. Further, use of hydrogen is being planned in remote locations/army areas for providing power through Fuel Cell micro grids, for which availability of large volume of fresh demineralized water is a bigger challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find solutions for optimization of water requirement for micro-grid applications. However, there are challenges for recovery of water from fuel cell exhaust as the outlet steam contains high nitrogen content which requires a typical design for water recovery. Implemented Solution: A fuel cell generates electricity by consuming hydrogen and oxygen and produces water as a byproduct in the gaseous/vapour form. The fuel cell exhaust (byproduct) contains mixture of water, water vapours and air/nitrogen which requires an advanced system for recovery of water from this mixture. A typically designed air-cooled condenser system has been installed in Pilot AEM electrolyser plant installed by NTPC at Dadri for recovery of water from PEM fuel cell micro grid. The water recovery system is connected to fuel cell exhaust, from which mixture of steam and nitrogen enters the designed system. The water recovery system includes an air-cooled condenser to extract pure water from the mixture. The presence of nitrogen gas in the mixture impacts the heat transfer coefficient, but the advanced system has been designed to maximize water recovery from the mixture. The recovered water is then recirculated to the electrolyser for generating hydrogen again. This process reduces the effective water requirement for a fuel-cell based micro grid application. Approximately 45-50% water reduction has been achieved in the micro grid installed at NTPC Dadri (Pilot AEM plant) with the used of the referred solution.
New Industry And Energy
Hydrogen energy
Design of the system took around 4-5 months. Manufacturing, factory testing and installation at site was completed within 3 months. Since the design/system has been successfully established, the design/manufacturing time for implementation in other projects shall reduce significantly.
The proposed solution has been implemented in Pilot AEM Electrolyser based plant installed at NTPC Dadri in India. The plant was awarded by NTPC to H2e Power System Private Limited. The hydrogen generated from Pilot AEM plant is being used in PEM fuel cell based micro grid application.
Presently, no solutions are available in the market for water recovery/optimization from fuel cell based micro grids. The proposed solution is a first of its kind and has not been implemented earlier. Till date, water is not being recovered from other fuel cell installations.
Application for obtaining a Patent for the proposed implemented solution has been filed by NTPC and h2e Power System Private Limited on January 03, 2024. The grant of patent is awaited. No other application for awards/prize or article for the proposed solution has been submitted till date by any of the applicant.
Application for obtaining a Patent for the proposed implemented solution has been filed by NTPC and h2e Power System Private Limited on January 03, 2024. The grant of patent is awaited. The scientific works/IPs shall be generated after grant of patent (No scientific works/IPs published till date).
