Novel modular and eco-designed PEM electrolyser integrated with solar energy for green hydrogen production

到2050年，英国政府被要求将该国的温室气体净排放量比1990年的水平减少100%。无论从短期还是长期来看，氢气都提供了一条通向碳中性甚至无碳社会的道路。净零目标和政策激励措施鼓励对绿色氢气生产的投资，特别是对与可再生太阳能相结合的水电解方法的研究和开发。电解槽的成本和耐用性仍然是商业化的重大障碍。易于更换的标准化模块化质子交换膜(PEM)电解槽规模更小，使系统具有灵活性、健壮性和普适性。它为降低成本提供了可行的解决方案，并延长了电解槽的使用寿命，即使在间歇太阳能供电的情况下也是如此。本项目旨在开发一种优化的、模块化的、环保的、能效更高、寿命更长的质子交换膜电解槽。电解槽组件与太阳能光伏集成在一起，加快了全球碳节约。候选人将研究和开发一种新型的可回收材料，用于膜电极组件(MEA)，并使用先进的物理和电化学表征工具。该项目将需要分子/电子/系统模型来研究水分解反应的机理，它们与细胞成分的关系，降解机理，并提高性能水平。将进行小型实验室原型的实验研究，以验证模块的传热和传质行为、稳定性和耐用性。太阳能电解的潜在好处，如降低成本、提高耐用性和环境影响，将通过技术-经济-环境研究进行评估。

By 2050, the UK government is required to reduce the country's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels. Hydrogen offers a path to a carbon-neutral or even a carbon-free society in both the short and long term. The net-zero targets and policy incentives encourage investment in green hydrogen production, especially in the research and development of water electrolysis methods integrated with renewable solar energy. The electrolyser's cost and durability remain the significant barriers to commercialization. Easily replaceable standardized modular proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyser, with a smaller scale, allows the system to be flexible, robust, and universally applicable. It provides a feasible solution for cost reduction and prolongs the electrolyser lifetime even when powered by intermittent solar energy. This project aims to develop an optimized modular and eco-friendly PEM electrolyser with higher energy efficiency and a longer lifetime. The electrolyser modules are integrated with solar photovoltaic for accelerating worldwide carbon-saving. The candidate will investigate and develop a novel recyclable material for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with advanced physical and electrochemical characterisation tools. This project will need molecular/electronic/systematic modelling to investigate the mechanism of the water-splitting reactions, their relationship with the cell components, degradation mechanisms, and raise performance level. An experimental study of a small lab-scale prototype will be conducted for validating the module's heat and mass transfer behaviour, stability, and durability. Potential benefits for solar-powered electrolysis, like cost reduction, enhance durability, and environmental impact will be evaluated through techno-economic-environmental study.