Development and testing of a PEM SO2-depolarized electrolyzer and an operating method that prevents sulfur accumulation

Steimke, John L.; Steeper, Timothy J.; Colon-Mercado, Hector R.; Gorensek, Maximilian B.

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.08.041

Title: Development and testing of a PEM SO₂-depolarized electrolyzer and an operating method that prevents sulfur accumulation

Journal Article · Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.08.041· OSTI ID:1252476

Steimke, John L. ^[1]; Steeper, Timothy J. ^[1]; Colon-Mercado, Hector R. ^[1]; Gorensek, Maximilian B. ^[1]

Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

The hybrid sulfur (HyS) cycle is being developed as a technology to generate hydrogen by splitting water, using heat and electrical power from a nuclear or solar power plant. A key component is the SO₂-depolarized electrolysis (SDE) cell, which reacts SO₂ and water to form hydrogen and sulfuric acid. SDE could also be used in once-through operation to consume SO₂ and generate hydrogen and sulfuric acid for sale. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) SDE cell based on a PEM fuel cell design was fabricated and tested. Measured cell potential as a function of anolyte pressure and flow rate, sulfuric acid concentration, and cell temperature are presented for this cell. Sulfur accumulation was observed inside the cell, which could have been a serious impediment to further development. A method to prevent sulfur formation was subsequently developed. As a result, this was made possible by a testing facility that allowed unattended operation for extended periods.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC09-08SR22470

OSTI ID:: 1252476

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1250047

Report Number(s):: SRNL-STI-2015-00293; PII: S0360319915021370

Journal Information:: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 40, Issue 39; ISSN 0360-3199

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 24 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (17)

Energy Requirements in Production of Hydrogen from Water Funk, J. E.; Reinstrom, R. M. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Process Design and Development, Vol. 5, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1021/i260019a025	journal	July 1966
The Westinghouse Sulfur Cycle for the thermochemical decomposition of water Brecher, L.; Spewock, S.; Warde, C. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 2, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3199(77)90061-1	journal	January 1977
An Investigation of Electrode Materials for the Anodic Oxidation of Sulfur Dioxide in Concentrated Sulfuric Acid Lu, P. W. T.; Ammon, R. L. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 127, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2129530	journal	December 1980
Recent developments in the technology of sulphur dioxide depolarized electrolysis Lu, P. W. T.; Garcia, E. R.; Ammon, R. L. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol. 11, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613954	journal	May 1981
Sulfur dioxide depolarized electrolysis for hydrogen production: Development status Lu, P.; Ammon, R. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 7, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3199(82)90037-4	journal	January 1982
Technological aspects of sulfur dioxide depolarized electrolysis for hydrogen production Lu, P. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 8, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3199(83)90207-0	journal	January 1983
Catalyst evaluation for a sulfur dioxide-depolarized electrolyzer Colón-Mercado, Héctor R.; Hobbs, David T. Electrochemistry Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2007.08.015	journal	November 2007
Evaluation of proton-conducting membranes for use in a sulfur dioxide depolarized electrolyzer Elvington, Mark C.; Colón-Mercado, Héctor; McCatty, Steve Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 195, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.11.031	journal	May 2010
Effect of Water Transport on the Production of Hydrogen and Sulfuric Acid in a PEM Electrolyzer Staser, John A.; Weidner, John W. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 156, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3001923	journal	January 2009
Quantifying Individual Potential Contributions of the Hybrid Sulfur Electrolyzer Staser, John A.; Gorensek, Maximilian B.; Weidner, John W. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 157, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3397901	journal	January 2010
Gas-Phase Hybrid Sulfur Electrolyzer Stack Stone, Simon; McPheeters, Clark; Staser, John ECS Transactions, Vol. 35, Issue 37 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3653440	journal	April 2011
Polybenzimidazole Membranes for Hydrogen and Sulfuric Acid Production in the Hybrid Sulfur Electrolyzer Jayakumar, J. V.; Gulledge, A.; Staser, J. A. ECS Electrochemistry Letters, Vol. 1, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1149/2.010206eel	journal	January 2012
Sensitivity study of process parameters in membrane electrode assembly preparation and SO2 depolarized electrolysis Xue, Lulu; Zhang, Ping; Chen, Songzhe International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 38, Issue 25 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.12.120	journal	August 2013
Comparison of ionically and ionical-covalently cross-linked polyaromatic membranes for SO2 electrolysis Peach, Retha; Krieg, Henning M.; Krüger, Andries J. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.10.023	journal	January 2014
Electrochemical aspects of the Hybrid Sulfur Cycle for large scale hydrogen production Allen, J. A.; Rowe, G.; Hinkley, J. T. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.05.112	journal	July 2014
Pt-based bimetallic catalysts for SO2-depolarized electrolysis reaction in the hybrid sulfur process Xue, Lulu; Zhang, Ping; Chen, Songzhe International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 39, Issue 26 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.02.128	journal	September 2014
A thermodynamic analysis of the SO2/H2SO4 system in SO2-depolarized electrolysis Gorensek, Maximilian B.; Staser, John A.; Stanford, Thomas G. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 34, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.06.020	journal	August 2009

Cited By (1)

Review of Anodic Catalysts for SO2 Depolarized Electrolysis for “Green Hydrogen” Production Díaz-Abad, Sergio; Millán, María; Rodrigo, Manuel A. Catalysts, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9010063	journal	January 2019

Similar Records

CRADA Final Report For CRADA NO. CR-12-006 [Operation and Testing of an SO₂-depolarized Electrolyzer (SDE) for the Purpose of Hydrogen and Sulfuric Acid Production]

Technical Report · Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2014 · OSTI ID:1252476

Summers, W. A.; Colon-Mercado, H. R.; Steimke, J. L.; +1 more

HYBRID SULFUR ELECTROLYZER DEVELOPMENT FY09 SECOND QUARTER REPORT

Technical Report · Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · OSTI ID:1252476

Herman, D; David Hobbs, D; Hector Colon-Mercado, H; +3 more

CHARACTERIZATION TESTING AND ANALYSIS OF SINGLE CELL SO2 DEPOLARIZED ELECTROLYZER

Technical Report · Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · OSTI ID:1252476

Steimke, J; Timothy Steeper, T

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
electrolysis
hybrid sulfur cycle
SO2-depolarized electrolysis
sulfuric acid

Title: Development and testing of a PEM SO2-depolarized electrolyzer and an operating method that prevents sulfur accumulation

Citation Formats

References (17)

Cited By (1)

Similar Records

Related Subjects

Title: Development and testing of a PEM SO₂-depolarized electrolyzer and an operating method that prevents sulfur accumulation