Hydrogen Electrolizers
The need for hydrogen availability ‘in situ’ has led KERN to develop alkaline electrolysers based on standard models of proven, efficient, safe and reliable technology.
Our experience dates back to the year 1985 with the construction of the first water electrolysis equipment to produce hydrogen for a chemical industry in Switzerland. Since then we have built and supplied more than 20 facilities of different production capacities, from 0.2 Nm3/h to 70 Nm3/h, in different countries (Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, United States) and for different applications (solar-photovoltaic, chemical industry, research ...).
We have know-how and patents.
TECHNOLOGY
The main systems of KERN atmospheric alkaline hydrogen production plants are as follows:
- Transformer/Rectifier
Transformer and rectifier convert AC voltage supply into DC current input.
- Electrolyzer
The electrolyzer is of the filter press type with bipolar electrodes separated by diaphragms (asbestos-free). Hydrogen gas is generated at the cathode and oxygen gas at the anode.
The K series electrolyzers developed by KERN have an energy consumption per cell stack as low as 4.3 kWh / Nm3 of hydrogen gas produced, and up to 170 kW per stack. A 500 kW stack is currently being developed.
- Electrolyte system
This module consists of two gas separators and the electrolyte recycling system. The electrolyte is recovered in the separators, then cooled and recycled to the cell block.
- Scrubber
This system has the following main functions:- Eliminate residual traces of electrolyte
- Cool hydrogen
- Water input
- Gas tank
The gas tank is an intermediate tank installed between the electrolyzer and the compressor or the process / consumption on site.
- Compressor
If necessary, a compressor is installed to compress the gas from atmospheric pressure in the gas container to the pressure required for the process or for storage.
- Deoxo
The hydrogen produced in the electrolyzer is a very pure gas, saturated with water, and an oxygen content of less than 0.2%. If higher purity is required, oxygen can be removed by catalytic reaction in this system.
- Dryer
The dryer dries the gas to reach the required dew point. It consists of twin towers filled with a desiccant that absorbs water.
- Warehouse
Gas storage is a backup solution or assurance of gas supply in applications with variable consumption.
All this plant can be containerized (20 – 40 foot cotainer)
Main technical features:
Net production capacity
40-160 Nm3/h
Production capacity range
50-100%
Energy consumption
4,3 kWh/Nm3
Purity with DEOXO
< 1 ppmv of oxygen
H2O in H2
< 2 ppmv
Supply pressure
10 barg/250 barg
Dimensions
20-40 ft container
Operating temperature
80ºC
Gas temperature
35ºC
Electrolyte
25% aqueous KOH solution
Water consumption
0,8 l/Nm3
Electrolyzer power
170 kW
Spec Sheet
OUR SERVICES
KERN develops tailored solutions to meet the technical-economic needs of its customers. Services offered by KERN are:
1.- Engineering and projects:
- Turnkey projects (EPC)
- Basic and detailed engineering
- Auxiliary services
2.- Project management:
- Technical-economic feasibility studies
- Management and supervision of Works
- Purchase management
- Permits and licenses management
- Legalization of the plant
- Start up
3.- Assembly, operation and maintenance of plants
KERN through its technical team, exploits, manages and maintains third-party facilities