Bubblelectric: Bubble Dynamics in Electrolysis

Abstract: Our society is transitioning to a low-carbon renewable energy system where solar and wind energy are becoming increasingly important. Because of the inherent intermittent nature of solar and wind energy and the difficulties to store vast amounts of electrical energy over a long time, suitable energy carriers are indispensable. An important energy storage solution is to convert electrical power into hydrogen through electrolysis. Current electrolysis suffers from a low efficiency, which is largely attributed to the flow and transport phenomena near electrode surfaces. This programme aims at unravelling the different phenomena at three different length scales and to give specific direction to enable a step change inefficiency rather than small evolutionary improvements. When successful, this should provide industrial end-users with means to make large scale operation feasible.

Coordinator: Niels Deen, Hans Kuipers (TU/e), Detlef Lohse (UT), Johan Padding (TU Delft)

Partners: Shell Global Solutions International B.V.,  Nouryon Chemicals International B.V., Nobian Chemicals B.V.

Funding tool: NWO ENW PPS - TA

TUD Workforce: 1xPhD