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The Korean Energy Research Institute has developed a solid oxide electrolysis cell that uses a special type of separator plate to ensure proper flow of hydrogen and oxygen after water splitting. Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Bumhan Industries are now cooperating with the research center to improve the corresponding manufacturing process.
The Korean Energy Research Institute (KIER) has announced that a group of its scientists has developed an 8 kW solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) that can reportedly produce more than 5 kg of hydrogen per day.
SOEC systems typically rely on a solid oxide, or ceramic, to produce hydrogen and oxygen. They use water supplied at the cathode to separate hydrogen from water in an external separation unit, and hydroxide ions flow through an aqueous electrolyte to the anode to generate oxygen.
“SOEC technology, which electrolyzes high-temperature steam into hydrogen and oxygen, is considered a high-efficiency hydrogen production technology that can reduce electricity consumption by more than 25% compared to other electrolysis methods when applied to places with a high demand for hydrogen and/or a large supply of steam, such as nuclear power plants, steel mills, petrochemical plants, and ammonia manufacturing plants,” the researchers stated.
They built the SOEC stack by layering ceramic cells, separator plates, and sealing materials. Its special feature is the separator plate, for which the academics adopted a pressure forming method that they say reduces production costs and time. This technique was used to create channels that allow proper flow of hydrogen and oxygen into the system.
“While the existing process could produce a maximum of 100 separator plates per day, the use of the press forming method allows the production of more than 1,000 plates per day, thus improving both cost and manufacturing time,” they explained.
The group claims it was also able to maximize the contact area between the cell and the separator plate, which supposedly ensures more uniform performance, and seal the stacked components using brazing technology. “This approach ensures that the cell can minimize hydrogen leaks even in the event of thermal shock or sudden temperature changes, thus maintaining stable performance,” he emphasizes.
After a series of tests, the system operated stably for 2,500 hours and supplied 5.7 kg of hydrogen per day.
The research institute has stated that it is now cooperating with South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electro-Mechanics and fuel cell developer Bumhan Industries to improve the proposed manufacturing process. |
