Caustic Aqueous Phase Electrochemical Reforming (CAPER) for Process Intensified Hydrogen Production

Executive Summary

The goal of this project is to provide a near term technology solution for the distributed generation of renewable hydrogen for fuel cell vehicle applications. This project will investigate a novel Caustic Aqueous Phase Electrochemical Reforming (CAPER) process on an oxigenated hydrocarbon, liquid ethanol in this instance, to make strides towards the DOE’s long-term cost target of $4/kg of hydrogen at the dispenser. The proposed CAPER technology utilizes liquid ethanol and electricity, preferably from intermittent renewable sources, to produce high purity (99.99%) hydrogen at high pressure directly from the reactor and without the use of precious metal catalysts. The CAPER technology also separates the produced CO2 from H2 in-situ by converting it to water-soluble HCO3-, leaving the gaseous hydrogen to bubble out of the caustic solution. The solution is then regenerated by removing high purity carbon dioxide from the solution that can be sequestered or reused.

Technical Challenge

  • High pressures (5,000-10,000 psi) are required for fuel cell vehicles 
  • Providing large production, distributed fueling sites with similar footprints to traditional fuel stations and minimal infrastructure investment.
  • Provide safe storage and dispensing of high purity hydrogen.
  • Meet local codes and standards that vary across the U.S. 
  • Provide a scalable system that can be replicated across the U.S.
  • Producing renewable (green) hydrogen at $4/kg when the current retail cost of centrally produced & distributed hydrogen is greater than $15/kg

Potential Impact

The proposed CAPER technology has the potential to provide distributed hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles at $4/kg by combining production of hydrogen with separation of carbon dioxide in one step at lower temperatures without the use of expensive membranes and external 4-stage compression. This technology could help enable the mainstream use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. 

Resources

The Washington State Univerisity team has expertise in areas such as energy generation from alternaitve fuels, hertergeneous catalysis, and high pressure aqueous phase reforming as well as access to the the O.H. Reaugh Laboratory for Oil and Gas processing and equipment including high temperature reactors and furances as well as sophisicated analytical equipement. The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) will provide the cost-share for the project including the expertise and time of two of its staff members who will assist in both scientific and economic aspects of the CAPER technology. GTI has also invested internal resources that has scaled up the CAPER reactors at GTI test facilities in Des Plaines, IL. GTI will be developing the CAPER system in parallel with the RAPID effort.  GTI currently has active DOE contracts for the improvement of hydrogen fueling systems. Frontier Energy, a wholly owned subsidary of GTI International, will provide hydrogen fueling station experience from its management of the California Fuel Cell partnership. GTI will consolidate its hydrogen fueling experience to determine an optimal design for the CAPER technology. In addition, GTI is discussing this technology with potential industrial partners, to accelerate the commercialization process once fundamental understanding of this technology is understood and meets the performance metrics of its potential customers. 

Investigator

Su Ha

Professor / Director, O.H. Reaugh Laboratory for Oil and Gas Research
Principal Investigator
Date Approved
Project Number
-
Initial TRL Level
-
Current TRL level
2
Project Funding
464,000
Focus Areas
Partner Organization