Hydrogen compressor

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A hydrogen compressor is a device that increases the pressure of hydrogen by reducing its volume resulting in compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen.

Contents

Traditionally, applications for hydrogen compressors included Chlorine electrolyser and many chemical applications like the production of hydrogen peroxide (HPPO). The newer applications related to green and environmentally friendly technologies include fuel cells and electrolysis for hydrogen production. [1]

Compressor vs pump

Hydrogen compressors are closely related to hydrogen pumps and gas compressors: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of hydrogen gas, whereas the main result of a pump raising the pressure of a liquid is to allow the liquid hydrogen to be transported elsewhere.

Types

Reciprocating piston compressors

A proven method to compress hydrogen is to apply reciprocating piston compressors. Widely used in refineries, they are the backbone of refining crude oil. Reciprocating piston compressors are commonly available as either oil-lubricated or non-lubricated; for high pressure (350 - 700 bar), non-lubricated compressors are preferred to avoid oil contamination of the hydrogen. Typical drive power is in the order of magnitude of Megawatts (300kW-15MW). Expert know-how on piston sealing and packing rings can ensure that reciprocating compressors outperform the competing technologies in terms of MTBO (Mean Time Between Overhaul).

Ionic liquid piston compressor

An ionic liquid piston compressor is a hydrogen compressor based on an ionic liquid piston instead of a metal piston as in a piston-metal diaphragm compressor. [2]

Electrochemical hydrogen compressor

A multi-stage electrochemical hydrogen compressor incorporates a series of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs), similar to those used in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells; this type of compressor has no moving parts and is compact. The electrochemical compressor works similar to a fuel cell, a voltage is applied to the membrane and the resulting electric current pulls hydrogen through the membrane. With electrochemical compression of hydrogen, a pressure of 14500 psi (1000bar or 100MPa) is achieved. A patent is pending claiming an exergy efficiency of 70 to 80% for pressures up to 10,000 psi or 700 bars. [3] A single stage electrochemical compression to 800 bar was reported in 2011. [4]

Hydride compressor

In a hydride compressor, thermal and pressure properties of a hydride are used to absorb low-pressure hydrogen gas at ambient temperatures and then release high-pressure hydrogen gas at higher temperatures; the bed of hydride is heated with hot water or an electric coil. [5]

Piston-metal diaphragm compressor

Piston-metal diaphragm compressors are stationary high-pressure compressors, four-staged water-cooled, 11–15 kW, 30–50 Nm3/h 40 MPa for dispensation of hydrogen. [6] Since compression generates heat, the compressed gas is to be cooled between stages making the compression less adiabatic and more isothermal. The default assumption on diaphragm hydrogen compressors is an adiabatic efficiency of 70%. [7] Used in hydrogen stations.

Guided rotor compressor

The guided rotor compressor (GRC) is a positive-displacement rotary compressor based upon an envoluted[ check spelling ] trochoid geometry which utilizes a parallel trochoid curve to define its basic compression volume. [8] [9] It has a typical 80 to 85% adiabatic efficiency. [10]

Linear compressor

The single-piston linear compressor uses dynamic counterbalancing, where an auxiliary movable mass is flexibly attached to a movable piston assembly and to the stationary compressor casing using auxiliary mechanical springs with zero vibration export at minimum electrical power and current consumed by the motor. [11] It is used in cryogenics

Electric Pressure Machine

2023 saw the invention of a compressor cylinder which heats gas to multiply it's pressure. There is no pressure limit as any start pressure is multiplied. First public mention is in Patent Application No. PCT/AU2023/051351.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air compressor</span> Machine to pressurize air

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brayton cycle</span> Thermodynamic cycle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compressor</span> Machine to increase pressure of gas by reducing its volume

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diving air compressor</span> Machine used to compress breathing air for use by underwater divers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reciprocating compressor</span> Device used to pump gases at high pressure

A reciprocating compressor or piston compressor is a positive-displacement compressor that uses pistons driven by a crankshaft to deliver gases at high pressure. Pressures of up to 5,000 PSIG are commonly produced by multistage reciprocating compressors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vapor-compression refrigeration</span> Refrigeration process

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turboexpander</span> Type of turbine for high-pressure gas

A turboexpander, also referred to as a turbo-expander or an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or axial-flow turbine, through which a high-pressure gas is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a compressor or generator.

Hydrogen technologies are technologies that relate to the production and use of hydrogen as a part hydrogen economy. Hydrogen technologies are applicable for many uses.

A diaphragm compressor is a variant of the classic reciprocating compressor with backup and piston rings and rod seal. The compression of gas occurs by means of a flexible membrane, instead of an intake element. The back and forth moving membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only the membrane and the compressor box come in touch with pumped gas. For this reason this construction is the best suited for pumping toxic and explosive gases. The membrane has to be reliable enough to take the strain of pumped gas. It must also have adequate chemical properties and sufficient temperature resistance.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-pressure electrolysis</span>

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The guided-rotor compressor (GRC) is a positive-displacement rotary gas compressor. The compression volume is defined by the trochoidally rotating rotor mounted on an eccentric drive shaft with a typical 80 to 85% adiabatic efficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydride compressor</span> Hydrogen compressor based on absorption and desorption of hydrogen

A hydride compressor is a hydrogen compressor based on metal hydrides with absorption of hydrogen at low pressure, releasing heat, and desorption of hydrogen at high pressure, absorbing heat, by raising the temperature with an external heat source like a heated waterbed or electric coil.

An electrochemical hydrogen compressor is a hydrogen compressor where hydrogen is supplied to the anode, and compressed hydrogen is collected at the cathode with an exergy efficiency up to and even beyond 80% for pressures up to 10,000 psi or 700 bars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ionic liquid piston compressor</span>

An ionic liquid piston compressor, ionic compressor or ionic liquid piston pump is a hydrogen compressor based on an ionic liquid piston instead of a metal piston as in a piston-metal diaphragm compressor.

A Johnson thermoelectric energy converter or JTEC is a type of solid-state heat engine that uses the electrochemical oxidation and reduction of hydrogen in a two-cell, thermal cycle that approximates the Ericsson cycle. It is under investigation as a viable alternative to conventional thermoelectric conversion. Lonnie Johnson invented it and claims the converter exhibits an energy conversion efficiency of as much as 60%, however, this claim is at a theoretical level based on comparison with a Carnot cycle and assumes a temperature gradient of 600 °C. It was originally proposed for funding to the Office of Naval Research but was refused. Johnson obtained later funding by framing the engine as a hydrogen fuel cell. Johnson had been collaborating with PARC on development of the engine.

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References

  1. "Liquid Ring Technology | Hydrogen Compressors". nash. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. New developments in pumps and compressors using Ionic Liquids Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Electrochemical hydrogen compressor Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  4. HyET, Hydrogen Efficiency Technologies BV, achieves electro-chemical compression of hydrogen up to a pressure of 800 Bar
  5. Hydride compressor Archived 2012-05-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Piston-metal diaphragm compressor
  7. Efficiency and performance measurement of a pdc single stage diaphragm hydrogen compressor-Pag.32 [ permanent dead link ]
  8. GRC - Detailed description and defining geometry
  9. Hydrogen delivery liquefaction & compression Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Mechanical properties". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  11. Valved linear compressor Archived 2009-09-03 at the Wayback Machine