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Through the support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), NREL has extensive, state-of-the-art research facilities to conduct hydrogen and fuel cell research. These facilities include four laboratories used primarily for hydrogen or fuel cell work and several other facilities that are used for hydrogen as well as other research.
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Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory
NREL researchers use the Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory to test the reliability of hydrogen sensors, key equipment for hydrogen use because the gas is colorless and odorless.
Credit: Robert Remick.
NREL's Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory fills an important need for facilitating extensive deployment of hydrogen technologies. Because hydrogen is colorless and odorless, sensors are key safety equipment for fueling stations, stationary fuel cells, and other hydrogen facilities. Sensors can be used to detect releases, automatically shut down systems, activate alarms, and notify emergency responders. A number of companies are making sensors, utilizing several different technologies resulting in a wide range of operating characteristics. When installing sensors, it is important to understand these operating characteristics and to have certified products that can meet the needs of each application.
In the Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory, NREL researchers are testing the various sensors available against DOE performance targets and working with manufacturers to refine their products such that they will meet or exceed those targets. Tests include sensitivity, response time, exposure to moisture and temperature extremes, and general reliability over time. Laboratory equipment includes specially designed test chambers to accommodate the multiple sensor types, environmental control systems, gas analysis capability, and data acquisition and control for consistent, repeatable test conditions.
For more information, read the NREL fact sheet, Hydrogen Sensor Testing (PDF 363 KB).
Fuel Cell Laboratory
NREL's Fuel Cell Laboratory allows NREL researchers to test performance of individual proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuels cells for the purpose of improving both the design and materials of PEM fuel cell systems and manufacturing processes for them. A research thrust of the laboratory is testing cells that manufacturers have found to have off-specification component thickness or other defects (or ones purposely fabricated with defects by NREL). This testing allows the NREL researchers to determine how defects affect performance and develop improved manufacturing processes, production-line diagnostics, alternate product design, or alternate materials to avoid defects that do significantly affect performance. Laboratory equipment includes fuel cell test stations and other electrochemical characterization equipment. Fuel cell test stations allow precise control of temperature, humidity, and gas flow rates. Hydrogen, oxygen, air, nitrogen, or other gases can be supplied to the fuel cell. Voltage and current are controlled by electronic load. Test cells greater than 100 cm2 in size can be tested with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Photoelectrochemical Laboratory
NREL researcher demonstrating direct production of hydrogen from light energy by a photoelectrochemical cell.
Credit: Warren Gretz.
NREL's Photoelectrochemical Laboratory enables NREL's pioneering work in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from solar energy. Photoelectrochemical devices combine elements of solar cells and elements of electrolyzers to produce hydrogen directly from sunlight in a single step. Efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen production is a holy grail of renewable hydrogen production, and NREL researchers are at the forefront of this research effort. The primary focus is to identify and develop current photovoltaic semiconductors or other materials that both generate sufficient voltage to drive the electrolysis process and are stable in aqueous solution. This laboratory contains the chemical and electrical equipment needed to carry out this research.
For more information, read the feature story from NREL's 2003 Research Review, "New Horizons for Hydrogen" (PDF 1.1 MB).
Photobiological Laboratory
NREL researcher examines bioreactors containing cultures of hydrogen-producing microscopic algae.
Credit: Jack Dempsey.
NREL's Photobiological Laboratory enables NREL's groundbreaking work in photobiological and fermentative production of hydrogen and basic research into the photosynthetic process and hydrogen producing enzymes. Certain algae and cyanobacteria photoproduce hydrogen for short times as a way to get rid of excess energy before starting up the photosynthetic carbon fixation process. NREL researchers are using the photobiological laboratory for enzyme engineering to block the access of oxygen to hydrogen-producing enzymes in the algae (which can stop the hydrogen production process) and other manipulations of the algae so as to increase hydrogen production.
The researchers are also developing the ability of other microorganisms to ferment cellulosic biomass to hydrogen. Photobiological production of hydrogen directly from sunlight and biological production from waste biomass materials each have the potential to be among the most cost effective ways to produce hydrogen from renewable energy.
For more information about the photosynthetic process and hydrogen producing enzymes, read about biological sciences research on NREL's Basic Research Web site. Also, see the NREL fact sheet, Photobiological Production of Hydrogen (PDF 558 KB).
Other Research Facilities
NREL researchers also use facilities from other research areas to help develop technologies for producing or using hydrogen.
Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility
NREL's Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Test Facility is a working laboratory to test and improve interconnections among renewable energy generation technologies, energy storage systems, and electrical conversion equipment. Research being conducted includes improving the system efficiency of hydrogen production by electrolysis using wind or other renewable energy. This research highlights a promising option for encouraging higher penetrations of renewable energy generation as well as producing hydrogen for transportation and other uses. NREL's Wind2H2 project is a collaboration with electric utility Xcel Energy. The project connects electrolyzers, hydrogen storage, and electrical generators with wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays at the DER Test Facility to evaluate such renewable energy/hydrogen electrolysis systems and develop effective power electronics for direct connection of turbines and arrays to electrolyzer stacks.
Visit the NREL Electric Infrastructure Systems Research Web site for more information about the DER Test Facility.
Thermochemical Users Facility
NREL's Thermochemical Users Facility (TCUF) includes pilot-scale equipment for liquefying or gasifying biomass and then either using those products to generate electricity or catalytically converting them to valuable fuels or chemicals. Catalytic conversion of synthesis gas to hydrogen by the "water-gas-shift reaction" is currently the most cost-effective means of producing hydrogen from renewable energy. NREL researchers work at the TCUF to improve that process.
Visit the NREL Biomass Research Web site for more information about the TCUF.
High-Flux Solar Furnace
NREL's High-Flux Solar Furnace can generate very high heat flux rates by concentrating the sun 2,500 times or more. NREL researchers are using the facility to explore thermochemical processes that generate hydrogen by oxidation and reduction of metal oxides. This work could ultimately lead to still-higher-temperature thermal processes that directly split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Visit the NREL Concentrating Solar Power Research Web site for more information about the High Flux Solar Furnace.
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