Ciclo de Seminarios 2014
2014 20 NOV
Jueves 20 de Noviembre
14:00 hs. - Aula B, Instituto de Tecnología "J. Sábato"
Edificio TANDAR
"Advances in the Field of PEM and Solid Oxide Water Electrolysis Research"
Dr. Karel Bouzek
Department of Inorganic Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Prague, Czech Republic
RESUMEN:
Water electrolysis represents one of the key technologies of the so called Hydrogen Economy. Its
main task in this approach to the energy storage and effective utilization consists in conversion
of locally (geographically or in time) excessive electrical energy to the energy of chemical bond
of hydrogen. Role of this technology was for a long time underestimated and most of the research
and development effort was invested into the development of the fuel cells, i.e. devices used for
the energy conversion in direction opposite to the water electrolysis. The existing alkaline water
electrolysis cannot satisfy the requirements put on the process used for flexible stabilization of
the energy distribution grid and for storage of instantaneous excesses of electrical energy. This
provoked renewed interest in the water electrolysis technology. Two main directions were followed.
First one consists in improvements and optimization of the existing alkaline route. Second one
focuses on development suitable alternative approaches. This presentation focuses on the second
mentioned route. Within last year an attention has focused at ICT Prague on theoptimization of an
anode for the PEM (proton exchange membrane) waterelectrolysis with a special focus being paid to
the anode catalytic layer. Second aspect followed was the durability of the
perfluorinatedsulphonated polymer electrolyte membrane in the system under conditions of elevated
temperature and pressure. In parallel experimental study accompanied by the mathematical modelling
was initiated in order to assess potential of these technologies in the field of energy storage and
conversion. The attention was primarily paid to the experimental approaches and optimization of an
experimental system. Later on optimization of the cell components became a subject of interest. The
experimental data obtained are used in the mathematical modelling of the system completing this
field of interest. The presentation will focus main aspects of the above topics and summarize plans
for the future progress in these fields.