10 Important Features of Pumps for Efficient Fuel Cells
Liquid Pumps and Gas Pumps for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
To ensure safe and accurate functioning, the devices and systems used for generating, storing and transporting hydrogen, or using it in fuel cells, require pumps for handling the energy carrier and the resulting processing media.
KNF liquid pumps and gas pumps have been reliably used in thousands of hydrogen or hydrogen carrier applications using methanol, ammonia, natural gas or biogas since the 2000s.
Decarbonization is the Path to Climate Neutrality
Halting global heating, reducing greenhouse gasses, achieving climate neutrality – there is hardly a country that does not have these goals at the top of its list of priorities.
Society and industry are facing a major transformation. Fossil sources used for production, energy generation and mobility are set to be replaced with low-emission alternatives wherever possible.
Green hydrogen and hydrogen carriers such as methanol or ammonia generated using wind, water or solar energy are important drivers for the transition.
KNF Pumps for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Carriers Used in Research and Industry
KNF is part of a dialog with leading research institutions for this key technology. KNF pumps are important elements of several projects investigating the technical setup, and improving processes and system components. We have already taken the step from the laboratory to high-throughput industrial scale solutions. Having started out working with technical pioneers, today we are increasingly collaborating with manufacturers of electrolysis and fuel cell systems for wide-spread application. Every day, we face new and novel requirements, and adapt our liquid transfer pumps and gas pumps to them.
10 Important Features of Pumps for Efficient Fuel Cells
No matter which type of fuel cell is involved, the system’s efficiency will depend on the accurate handling of the fuel and the resulting process media. KNF liquid pumps and gas pumps provide the technology needed for these key tasks.
Based on decades of experience, we know the parameters for optimal operation of fuel cell systems – and we therefore also know the optimal performance parameters for the pumps used in these systems.
Feature 1: Minimum energy consumption
Feature 2: Self-priming and safe to run dry
Feature 3: Low-pulsation
Feature 4: Temperature-resistance
Feature 5: Start-up against system pressure
Feature 6: Gastight
Feature 7: High protection class
Feature 8: Compact
Feature 9: High-flexible and adaptable
Feature 10: Liquid pumps and gas pump from one source
Our brochure gives a comprehensive overview of our highly flexible pump technology and two decades of co-engineering in hydrogen technology.
Minimum Energy Consumption
Our fuel cell projects have taught us that the electricity used by our liquid pumps and gas pumps is only a minor part of the overall operating energy. On average, our pumps’ energy demand is in the lower one-digit percentage range. We consistently use the performance benefits of our own Digital Customization series brushless DC motors. Extensive parametrization enables smooth start-up and full rotational speed control at all times, avoiding peak loads.
When Used With Liquid Methanol, Our Pumps are Self-Priming and Safe to Run Dry
Methanol is a very popular hydrogen carrier because it is relatively easy to handle during transport and storage. But there is one catch: Methanol can dry out, and in the worst case, the pump will no longer work when the system is started up the next time. However, fuel cell systems for emergency power supply spend most of the time not running, sometimes for weeks on end. Our pumps are able to cope with this. They have been integrated in emergency power systems around the world, and they always start up reliably, even then when they are operated rarely.
Low-Pulsation Pumping to the Reformer
For an ideal conversion process, the amount and mixture of the hydrogen carrier in the reformer must be exactly right. KNF liquid transfer pumps have the perfect technical features to make this happen. The low-pulsation process means that they do not create pressure peaks. Our DC motors can be parametrized so comprehensively that power-saving operating profiles are possible for any operating mode. Furthermore, the required mixture of, for example, methanol and DI-water, is perfectly matched via the pump control.
Temperature-Resistance
The temperature of hydrogen, hydrogen carriers and the resulting processing media is not stable – it tends to rise. KNF pumps are designed to cope with such process-inherent changes, for instance with pump components that will tolerate contact with the medium. EPDM, Viton, aluminum – we will help you decide with material is best suited for your application.
Start-Up Against System Pressure
Depending on the type of fuel cell and the technology used (with or without reformer), the system pressure can go up to 2 bar g. KNF pumps operate reliably and with a long service life at these system pressures.
Stable pressure conditions within the stack are advantageous for efficient anode and cathode processes. The recirculation of unused hydrogen from the anode outlet back to the anode inlet can be managed efficiently with KNF gas pumps. Employing KNF gas pumps does not require any change to the system pressure.
Gastight
It comes as no surprise that gas tightness is a key functional and testing parameter for hydrogen handling. KNF pumps already come hermetically sealed because they do not include any dynamic seals. The design-inherent gas tightness can be further improved by selecting metallic materials for the pump head and flat connections between the pump and the customer’s system. The gas tightness of KNF pumps has proven itself in many applications, especially when used with particularly volatile or toxic gases.
High Protection Class for Challenging Conditions
Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, which means under varying ambient conditions. Whatever the application, the ambient conditions are almost always challenging. Humidity is only one of the key parameters.
The protection class of the integrated component must be correct. A number of optional measures can raise the protection level indicated in the KNF pump data sheets for series models, for example by adding a special flange for the BLDC motor, a terminal box or special motor-cable glands. For some pumps, the protection class can be raised up to IP 65.
Compact With Little Space In the Fuel Cell System
For mobile systems such as fork lift trucks in particular, the space for integrating a fuel cell system are limited. This is where our pumps come in – and their size-performance-ratio is constantly being improved. Our most recent generation of brushless motors – a KNF in-house development – is highly integrated. The drive and the pump share a housing, which saves space right from the start. The pump head connection system can usually be adjusted flexibly, enabling us to save even more space.
High-Flexible and Adaptable
The number of applications and special requirements of the many different types of fuel cells is immense. Pumps for fuel and processing media have a determining effect on performance and efficiency. Thanks to our flexible and comprehensive modular system, each and every KNF liquid and gas pump series model can be adapted quickly and cost-efficiently to perfectly suit a particular configuration – even for lot size 1. Talk to our experts and establish your exact specification using a sample pump.
Liquid Pumps and Gas Pump From One Source
Many fuel cell systems use liquid pumps and gas pumps. Anode and cathode paths affect each other and are controlled as a whole. KNF offers a comprehensive range of liquid pumps and gas pumps. This will reduce your sourcing expenditure and make engineering simpler, because the liquid and gaseous media are handled by components that are coordinated to work with each other. And, what’s equally important, our pumps are digitalized to enable seamless integration with your system control.
