【Ten Years of Great Progress in Chemical Engineering Technology】073 – Hydrogen production prototype using solid oxide electrolyzers at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, 2 Nm3/h capacity, 2023
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Ten years of rapid development in chemical engineering technology; praise for the prosperous and strong China. This is just a starting point to encourage more participation from everyone. HaiChuan becomes even better with your involvement – we welcome all to join in the forum discussions. Everyone should pay attention to safety and know how to handle emergencies. ********************************************* Recently, the Fuel Cell System Science and Engineering Research Center (Group DNL0301) within the Fuel Cell Research Department at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics developed a prototype hydrogen production system using solid oxide electrolyzers, with a rated hydrogen production capacity of 2 Nm3/h. A Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) is the reverse process of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC); it can convert electrical and thermal energy into chemical energy in the form of fuel at medium to high temperatures (700 to 900°C). It offers advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency and the absence of the need for precious metal catalysts. SOEC utilizes excess renewable energy electricity, as well as industrial waste heat generated in industries such as nuclear power, chemicals, and steel manufacturing, to produce hydrogen through electrolysis; the efficiency achieved can exceed 90%, making it one of the key technologies for large-scale hydrogen production in the future. Compared with foreign countries, China’s development of SOEC technology started later, and there are significant gaps in areas such as stack and system fabrication. In recent years, the team has made a series of advances in areas such as key materials for SOECs, stack development, and system integration. The team developed a symmetric sealing technology that exhibits excellent sealing performance, ensuring no significant decrease in the open-circuit potential of the stack even after multiple restarts ； Gas distribution technology for high-power stacks has been developed, with the power of a single stack reaching the 10 kW level ； Highly integrated water supply units, gas supply units, and heat management units were designed independently to create a SOEC hydrogen production system with a rated hydrogen production capacity of 2 Nm3/h; the direct current energy consumption is approximately 3.30 kWh/Nm3, and the steam conversion rate exceeds 70%. The relevant achievements are expected to lay a technical foundation for the further development of large-scale solid oxide electrolyzer hydrogen production systems.
A Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) is the reverse process of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC); it can convert electrical and thermal energy into chemical energy in the form of fuel at medium to high temperatures (700 to 900°C). It offers advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency and the absence of the need for precious metal catalysts. SOEC utilizes excess renewable energy electricity, as well as industrial waste heat generated in industries such as nuclear power, chemicals, and steel manufacturing, to produce hydrogen through electrolysis; the efficiency achieved can exceed 90%, making it one of the key technologies for large-scale hydrogen production in the future. Compared to other countries, China’s development of SOEC technology started later, but recent developments in this field in China indicate that the pace of research and development in solid oxide electrolysis water splitting technology is accelerating, with signs of progress already emerging. In March 2023, the 200kW-class high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis water (SOEC) hydrogen production demonstration unit, developed by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, achieved successful operation on its first attempt. The hydrogen production capacity was 202kW, the hydrogen production rate was 64 Nm3/h, and the direct current power consumption was 3.16 kWh/Nm3·H2; moreover, it successfully passed a performance test lasting 72 consecutive hours. In April 2023, Yijing Hydrogen Energy’s first automated SOEC stack production line in China was successfully launched. This automated SOEC stack production line is the first of its kind in the country; it has an annual production capacity of 100 MW, ranking first in the nation, and it is capable of producing various models of stacks. On May 30, 2023, Beijing Siweite signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the People’s Government of Shandan County to carry out in-depth collaboration on the development of hydrogen production systems using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), as well as on the production of key components and the establishment of related industries.
In April 2023, Yijing Hydrogen Energy’s first automated SOEC stack production line in China was successfully launched. This automated SOEC stack production line is the first of its kind in the country; it has an annual production capacity of 100 MW, ranking first in the nation, and it is capable of producing various models of stacks. On May 30, 2023, Beijing Siweite signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the People’s Government of Shandan County to carry out in-depth collaboration on the development of hydrogen production systems using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), as well as on the production of key components and the establishment of related industries. On May 30, 2023, Proton Power officially announced the initiation of research, development, and commercialization of the SOEC/SOFC reversible cell (ReSOC). The ReSOC reversible cell is a key component for efficient two-way conversion of electricity and hydrogen, and it can be widely used in long-duration energy storage systems that utilize the \"electricity–hydrogen–electricity\" cycle, as well as in distributed cogeneration plus hydrogen production via water electrolysis projects. In early June 2023, the prototype of Beijing Siweit’s 10kW-class solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) hydrogen production system was officially rolled out, and all performance tests were completed. In recent years, the Fuel Cell System Science and Engineering Research Center of the Fuel Cell Research Department at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has made a series of advances in areas such as key materials for SOECs, stack development, and system integration. The team developed a symmetric sealing technology that exhibits excellent sealing performance, ensuring no significant decrease in the open-circuit potential of the stack even after multiple restarts ； Gas distribution technology for high-power stacks has been developed, with the power of a single stack reaching the 10 kW level ； Highly integrated water supply units, gas supply units, and heat management units were designed independently to create a SOEC hydrogen production system with a rated hydrogen production capacity of 2 Nm3/h; the direct current energy consumption is approximately 3.30 kWh/Nm3, and the steam conversion rate exceeds 70%. The relevant achievements are expected to lay a technical foundation for the further development of large-scale solid oxide electrolyzer hydrogen production systems.
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Ten years of rapid development in chemical technology – praising the prosperous and strong China of today