Gas Phase Hydrogen Recombiner for 25 kW Electrolyzer System

Background
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy. The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) at NREL owns and operates hydrogen production systems and aims to reduce or eliminate continuous venting of hydrogen and other flammable gases to reduce the chance of flaring.

Work Details
The project objective is to provide a Gas Phase Hydrogen Recombiner for a 25 kW Electrolyzer System. The project scope includes designing, fabricating, and assembling a gas phase recombiner to remove hydrogen from the vent stream of the electrolyzer. The recombiner has been sized based on a maximum hydrogen production rate of 0.5 kg/h, assuming all the hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer will be released to atmosphere through the vent. The recombiner has been sized for a flowrate of 150 m3/h of hydrogen-in-air, at 40°C, atmospheric pressure, with a conversion efficiency of approximately 99%. Technical and safety requirements include materials of construction compatible with hydrogen service, no pressure rating required as ambient air will be mixed with ambient pressure hydrogen from the electrolyzer, no power or electrical service required as the recombiner is a passive device that uses catalyst to electrochemically convert/recombine hydrogen with oxygen in the air to produce water and heat, among others.

Period of Performance
The anticipated lead/delivery time is 10-12 weeks ARO.