STTR Phase I: Development of High Temperature Membranes for Increased PEM Electrolysis Efficiency

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。这个小型企业技术转移一期项目解决了质子交换膜（PEM）电解的效率限制，为燃料和备用电源提供了一种潜在的可再生、具有成本竞争力的氢源。质子能源系统公司生产PEM电解槽，该电解槽在200至2400 psi的差压下运行。目前使用的pfsa膜的厚度要求和温度限制导致在1500 mA/cm2或更大的典型工作电流密度下，离子电阻损失很大。因此，电力成本是生命周期成本的主要贡献者。在这项工作中，宾州州立大学开发的交联聚砜和聚苯基热塑性聚合物将用于提高机械强度和实现更高的温度操作。研究目标是1)合成和表征适合高压电解应用的厚度的替代膜组合物，2)将这些膜纳入MEAs中，3)在温度高达80℃的单电池堆水平上进行蠕变研究和电解测试。通过使用更薄的膜和更高的工作温度，可以大大提高系统效率，同时降低电解装置的资本成本。该研究计划将增强或启用三个系列的产品：(1)用于工业气体应用的PEM电解系统，(2)用于运输燃料应用的PEM电解系统和(3)用于再生燃料电池备用电源的PEM电解系统。虽然所有产品系列都将从显著的成本降低中受益，但备用电源的运营成本目标是最激进的。几家燃料电池公司已经为这个市场提供了备用电源包。然而，典型的加氢方案涉及输送氢气。根据Proton进行的市场分析，这对于许多无线站点来说并不是一个实际的解决方案。据估计，美国备用电池市场的总规模约为2.5亿美元/年，而潜在市场规模约为1.3亿美元/年。Proton为美国能源部完成了一项详细的贸易研究，该研究表明，通过PEM电解氢的成本中，电力是最大的贡献因素，因此，通过高温操作提高效率对该应用的可行性至关重要。然而，这些膜的进步也将使质子在实验室和发电厂市场上的商业产品的客户受益。该研究还提供了非pfsa膜在长期电解操作中的可行性的关键信息。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Project addresses the efficiency limitations of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis in order to provide a potentially renewable, cost-competitive hydrogen source for fueling and backup power applications. Proton Energy Systems manufactures PEM electrolyzers which operate at differential pressures ranging from 200 to 2400 psi hydrogen generation. The thickness requirements and temperature limitations of currently used PFSA-membranes result in large ionic resistance losses at the typical operating current densities of 1500 mA/cm2 or greater. Electricity cost is therefore the major contributor to the life cycle cost. In this work, cross-linked poly(sulfone) and poly(phenylene) thermoplastic polymers developed by Penn State University will be utilized to increase mechanical strength and enable higher temperature operation. The research objectives are to 1) synthesize and characterize alternative membrane compositions at thicknesses suitable for high pressure electrolysis applications, 2) incorporate these membranes into MEAs and 3) perform creep studies and electrolysis testing at the single cell stack level at temperatures up to 80 C. By using thinner membranes and higher operating temperatures, the system efficiency can be greatly increased, while the capital cost of the electrolysis unit is decreased. Three families of products will be enhanced or enabled by this research program: (1) PEM electrolysis systems for industrial gas applications, (2) PEM electrolysis systems for transportation fueling applications and (3) PEM electrolysis systems for regenerative fuel cell backup power applications. While all of the product families will benefit from significant cost reduction, the operating cost targets for backup power are the most aggressive. Several fuel cell companies have already been offering backup power packages for this market. However, the typical fueling solution has involved delivered hydrogen. Based on the market analysis Proton has conducted, this is not a practical solution for many wireless sites. The total US backup battery market size has been estimated at ~$250M/year, with the addressable section being ~$130M/year. Proton completed a detailed trade study for DOE which demonstrated that electricity is the largest contributor to the cost of hydrogen via PEM electrolysis, and therefore efficiency gains through higher temperature operation are essential to viability of this application. However, these membrane advances would also benefit the customers of Proton's commercial products in the lab and power plant markets. This study also provides critical information on the viability of non-PFSA membranes for long term electrolysis operation.