UPT, partner in Horizon 2020 project
UPT hosted the Semiannual consortium meeting of the PRETZEL project
Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara (UPT) recently hosted the Semiannual consortium meeting of the PRETZEL project - Novel modular stack design for high PREssure PEM water elecTrolyZer tEchnoLogy with wide operation range and reduced costs. This project has received funding from the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 779478. UPT is project partner and the meeting was organized by the Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering.
A number of 18 teachers, researchers, PhD students and administrative staff participated at the meeting, from the 9 project partners (DLR - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, Germany, WHS - Westfälische Hochschule, Germany, ARMINES - Association for Research and Development of Methodes et Process, France, UPT – Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara, ADAMANT - Aerodiastimikes Efarmoges Etaireia Periorismenis Efthynis, Greece, GKN Sinter Metals Filters GmbH, Germany, CERTH - Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Greece, Soluciones Cataliticas IBERCAT SL, Germany).
The overall objective of PRETZEL project is to develop an innovative polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer (PEMEL) that provides significant improvements in efficiency and operability to satisfy emerging market requirements. Such electrolyzers are urgently needed for the increased demands of the grid balancing services. In this context, PRETZEL is offering breakthrough technologies for becoming game changer in the field of water electrolyzers. The central objective of PRETZEL is the development of a new water electrolysis system with a maximum energy consumption of 25 kWh with a production capacity of 4.5 m3 H2 / h at rated power at a pressure of 100 bar and water temperature of 90°C.
The project proposes a patented design of the electrolysis cells, to allow for their hydraulic compression. The replacement of mechanic by hydraulic compression has the advantage of better distribution of compression forces at the electrolysis cell components, allows for large planar cell components, thus increasing the productivity and also ensures efficient cooling. This concept has the potential to represent the technology of the next generation of electrolyzers, ensuring that the needs of hydrogen production on an industrial scale are met in the near future.
