THAWE2X

Alkaline water electrolysis is crucial for green H2 production, with lower costs and without critical raw materials. There are challenges that are fundamentally solved in this project.  

The project THAWE2X:

• develops catalyst-coated membranes to reduce energy consumption & gas crossover.  
• revises the stack design & manufacturing methods for electrolyzer power ranges of 100 kW.  
• researches a system for strong load changes & direct P2X coupling.  

The alliance incl. associated partners covers 90 % of the value chain of a PtX system. 

Shares in Merkle CAE Solutions: 

• Prior to stack development, the foundations are laid at component and cell level using FV/CFD simulation. This applies in particular to flow-relevant components and the pressure-resistant designof the sealing concept and the end plates. The simulation results can subsequently be implemented in a production-ready component and stack design. In addition, a novel membrane/separator concept is developed and manufactured in accordance with the desired electrical and gas separation properties and tested using electrochemical analysis methods. 
• Support with technical calculations for the pre-dimensioning of the stack components with regard to strength 
• Computational testing and design of sealing concepts and preload concepts. 
• Verification in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive, including exceptional load cases such as explosion 
• Technical calculations, numerical simulation and verification procedures including safety concept, especially for the end plates 
• Development of strategies for mapping very small porous media on several scales for a fluid mechanical investigation 
• Mapping of electro-thermal-chemical and diffusion processes in the numerical simulation and their economic simplification for the calculation of overall systems. 
• Development and mapping of the multi-scale approach from parts of a cell to a complete cell and an entire stack 
• Optimization of pressure losses and uniform distributions within the cells and the stack to maximize efficiency.