PROJECTS
Source: NWN/Rainer Jensen
Heat exchangers are needed to compensate for the high pressure that is generated during refueling.
AdekWat - Additively manufactured high-pressure heat exchanger for efficient refueling at hydrogen filling stations
In the transport sector, hydrogen is seen as one of the key solutions for reducing emissions - especially in heavy goods traffic. For fuel cell vehicles to become more widespread, a corresponding filling station infrastructure is required. The conversion of conventional filling stations or the construction of new hydrogen filling stations requires complex technology, some of which must be integrated into the hydrogen dispenser. Due to the high pressure that hydrogen is under during refueling, special requirements are also placed on the pressurized components.
These components include the heat exchanger for pre-cooling the hydrogen, which is to be developed to market maturity as part of the "AdekWat" joint project funded by the state of Lower Saxony. The Institute for Thermodynamics and the Institute for Product Development and Device Construction at Leibniz Universität Hannover are involved in this project under the leadership of FUNKE Wärmeaustauscher GmbH.
A special feature of the heat exchanger to be developed is its manufacture using additive manufacturing technology, which allows many degrees of freedom in the geometric design of the heat exchanger and therefore has great potential in terms of saving installation space and weight.
However, the geometric degrees of freedom make the design process complex. To support users in the design process, a software routine is also being developed as part of the joint project in order to find customer-specific solutions.
In addition to use in hydrogen filling stations, additively manufactured (high-pressure) heat exchangers can be used in numerous other areas of application, such as the mobility sector or the process industry.
Partner
FUNKE Wärmeaustauscher Apparatebau GmbH - FUNKE is a manufacturer of various types of heat exchangers with approx. 400 employees worldwide and has almost 50 years of experience in the design, construction and manufacture of heat exchangers.
Institute of Thermodynamics - The Institute represents technical thermodynamics in research and teaching and is part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at LUH. Research focuses on fuel cells and water electrolysis, thermodynamic cycles, heat and mass transfer as well as nanofluids and material data.
Institute for Product Development and Device Engineering - The institute is part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at LUH and is active in numerous scientific and industrial projects. In addition to teaching, the institute is active in the research areas of development methodology, systems engineering, additive manufacturing and optomechatronics.
Stay informed - with our newsletter "NWN direkt..."
You want to stay informed about these and other exciting hydrogen projects from Lower Saxony? Then sign up for our newsletter!