Hydrogen Energy Applications
Ensure hydrogen purity to achieve optimal performance of fuel cells
Relying on advanced hydrogen purity detection technology, the optimal performance of fuel cells is guaranteed. By monitoring and controlling contaminants such as trace moisture, trace oxygen, trace carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, total hydrocarbons and sulfur, it protects fuel cells and maximizes operating efficiency.
The Importance of Hydrogen Purity in Fuel Cells
The Fuel cell plays a critical role in the hydrogen energy supply chain, particularly in the transportation sector such as trains, automobiles, and ships. It efficiently converts hydrogen back into electricity, producing clean energy with water as the only byproduct. Whether the hydrogen comes directly from a production system or a storage system, fuel cells require high-purity hydrogen to achieve optimal performance. Any impurities in high-purity hydrogen may reduce fuel cell performance and cause long-term damage.
Fuel cells are extremely sensitive to impurities, which can give rise to a variety of adverse effects. Even trace contaminants such as moisture (H2O), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2) and carbon monoxide (CO) can inhibit energy conversion efficiency and reduce power output. Over time, these contaminants can also damage fuel cell components, particularly the catalysts (proton exchange membrane), resulting in high maintenance or replacement costs. For fuel cells compliant with GB/T 37244-2018 Fuel Specification for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Vehicles—Hydrogen \ISO 14687:2019(E), it is particularly important to maintain hydrogen purity, as this standard sets strict limits on the concentrations of impurities such as H2O, O2, and N2. The specific properties and content of impurities in hydrogen vary depending on the source, whether it is steam methane reforming (SMR), methanol pyrolysis, oxygen production from coke oven gas, gray hydrogen purification, or electrolysis. Each hydrogen production method may introduce different contaminants, which need to be monitored and controlled before the hydrogen enters the fuel cell.
Key Purity Detection Indicators of Hydrogen for Fuel Cells
To ensure the hydrogen used for fuel cells meets the necessary standards for high performance, the following key purity detection indicators are critical:
● Moisture in hydrogen (water vapor) : Excessively high moisture content can interfere with the electrochemical reaction inside the fuel cell, reduces efficiency, and may damage fuel cell components. Monitoring trace moisture content in hydrogen is critical to ensuring that the hydrogen is sufficiently dry to maintain optimal performance of fuel cells.
● Oxygen in hydrogen: Oxygen contamination can reduce the power output and efficiency of fuel cells. Even small amounts of oxygen can significantly degrade fuel cell performance over time. Continuous monitoring of oxygen content ensures that the hydrogen does not contain this harmful contaminant.
● Carbon monoxide (CO): Carbon monoxide is one of the most harmful contaminants to fuel cells, especially proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. CO adsorbs onto the platinum catalyst, reducing its ability to facilitate the hydrogen-oxygen reaction. Even trace CO can greatly degrade fuel cell performance and service life. Monitoring CO content is essential to prevent catalyst poisoning.
● Ammonia (NH3): Detecting trace ammonia content in hydrogen for fuel cells is critical for protecting the catalyst, maintaining fuel cell performance, ensuring safety, and controlling the quality. In practical applications, high-sensitivity TDLAS laser analytical methods and instruments are required to accurately detect trace ammonia content in hydrogen.
● Hydrogen Purity Level: The overall purity of hydrogen must comply with stringent standards such as GB/T 37244-2018 Fuel Specification for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Vehicles - Hydrogen \ISO 14687:2019(E), which establish requirements for acceptable contaminant levels in hydrogen used for fuel cells. Continuous monitoring of hydrogen purity ensures that the hydrogen complies with these standards, prevents performance degradation, and maximizes fuel cell efficiency.
Additional Safety Considerations: Installation and System Integrity
In addition to purity concerns, specific installation safety and system integrity measures are also critical for hydrogen storage and distribution within fuel cell systems. A leak detection system shall be installed to identify any leaks in the hydrogen supply, which may pose serious safety risks. Furthermore, inerting (i.e., adding an inert gas to reduce the risk of combustion) can be used to protect the system from accidental ignition events.
What analyzers are used to detect the purity of hydrogen for fuel cells?
To maintain the level of hydrogen purity required for fuel cell operation, a variety of advanced analyzers are used to detect and remove contaminants before the hydrogen enters the fuel cell.
| Measurement Item | Application | Recommended Product |
| Moisture (H2O) | A moisture analyzer detects water vapor in hydrogen to ensure that the hydrogen is sufficiently dry for fuel cell operation, thereby preventing efficiency losses and damage to fuel cell components. | CI-AM171\ CI-PC35-2 |
| Hydrogen Purity (H2) | Purity analyzers provide real-time data on the overall quality of hydrogen, ensuring ensuring it meets the purity standards for fuel cell applications such as GB/T 37244-2018 Fuel Specification for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Vehicles—Hydrogen \ISO 14687:2019(E). This guarantees efficient fuel cell operation without contamination risks. | CI-551-2, CI-PC9280-PDHID Chromatograph |
| Oxygen (O2) | The oxygen analyzer continuously monitors the presence of oxygen in hydrogen to ensure that oxygen levels remain within acceptable limits and prevent catalyst poisoning. | CI-PC95-2\ CI-PC951-2\ CI-PC935 |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | Carbon monoxide analyzers are essential for detecting levels of trace carbon monoxide, preventing poisoning of platinum catalysts in fuel cells and maintaining high efficiency. | CI-PC21\ CI-PC9280-PDHIDChromatograph |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | The detection of trace carbon dioxide in hydrogen for fuel cells is a key measure to ensure efficient and stable operation and extend the service life of fuel cells. | CI-PC21\ CI-PC9280-PDHIDChromatograph |
| CnHm\CH4 | Hydrocarbon compounds may undergo oxidation reactions inside fuel cells, producing carbon dioxide and water. This not only dilutes hydrogen concentration and reduces the output power of fuel cells, but also may cause contamination or poisoning to the catalyst. | CI-PC9001\ CI-PC61\ CI-PC9260\ CI-PC9280-PDHID Chromatograph |
| Nitrogen | Detecting nitrogen content helps assess hydrogen purity; high concentrations of nitrogen can dilute the hydrogen concentration and reduce the fuel cell’s output power, ensuring that the fuel cell operates at its optimal performance. | CI-PC9280-PDHID Chromatograph |
| (N2) | ||
| Ammonia (NH3) | The detection of trace ammonia content in hydrogen for fuel cells is critical for catalyst protection, the maintenance of fuel cell performance, safety assurance and quality control. | CI-PC62 |
Hydrogen Production Applications
● Measuring the concentration of hydrogen injected into natural gas pipelines (for transportation-here referring to the scenario where hydrogen is transported via natural gas pipelines);
● Measuring the purity/quality of stored hydrogen to prevent contamination of fuel cells;
● Measurement of steam methane reforming (SMR), methanol pyrolysis, and oxygen production from coke oven gas; detection and quality control for gray hydrogen purification and water electrolysis hydrogen production processes;
● Safety and purity of hydrogen storage.
