Energetic Comparison of Electrochemical versus Mechanical Compression of Hydrogen

• Published in: Computer Aided Chemical Engineering Vol. 53; pp. 2047 - 2052
• Main Authors: Prokopou, Georgia Ioanna, Mödden, Matthias Leon, Mitsos, Alexander, Bongartz, Dominik
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Electrochemical compression; energetic performance; hydrogen; mechanical compression; modeling; Electrochemical compression; modeling; hydrogen; energetic performance; mechanical compression
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-28824-1.50342-2
• ISBN: 9780443288241; 0443288240
• ISSN: 1570-7946

Compression is a necessary step for the efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen. Mechanical compressors are a mature technology widely used for this purpose. Electrochemical hydrogen compression is also considered a promising alternative, however, as a novel technology, there are still open questions regarding to what extent it can be competitive with mechanical compressors. In the present work, we compare the energetic performance of these two compression technologies. We first build a model of a multi-stage mechanical compressor. Then we use the model together with our existing electrochemical compressor model to analyze and compare their energetic performance at different pressure levels. The results show that improvements in the membranes and the catalysts need to be made to make the electrochemical compressor energetically competitive with the mechanical compressor.