The Catalonia Institute for Power Analysis (IREC) has opened a brand new pilot manufacturing line that makes use of 3D printing to provide ceramic gadgets for renewable hydrogen functions. The ability, referred to as Merce Lab, manufactures strong oxide cells (SOCs) that may perform as each gas cells and electrolyzers. The pilot line obtained funding from H2B2 as a part of the €25 million Tecnopropia challenge, with an preliminary funding of €2 million.
The 3D printing method gives a number of manufacturing benefits over conventional strategies. The method reduces materials consumption and creates lighter, extra compact gadgets with increased vitality density. In keeping with Marc Torrell, head of Merce Lab at IREC, “This facility positions us as pioneers in SOC manufacturing at a world scale,” including that “it is a disruptive method to manufacturing processes and efficiency of ceramic-based gadgets, opening the door to new SOC methods for functions that beforehand couldn’t meet desired necessities, resembling maritime or aviation transport.”
The present pilot line has a producing capability of roughly 2 MW per 12 months and may be scaled up as wanted. The SOC gadgets obtain 4 occasions the facility density of current business applied sciences at an estimated price of €800/kW. IREC initiatives this might cut back hydrogen manufacturing prices to under €4/kg, whereas the ceramic-based cells can save as much as 25% of the vitality required for hydrogen technology in comparison with polymer-based alternate options.
The manufacturing course of covers 5 predominant phases: ink preparation, cell manufacturing, interconnector manufacturing, element meeting, and closing system validation. IREC has established partnerships with a number of business corporations together with H2B2, 3Dceram, AMES, and Viver Clear Tech to speed up expertise improvement. The institute plans to create a spin-off firm referred to as Oxhyd Power to commercialize the SOC gas cell expertise.
Supply: fuelcellsworks.com
