RENEWABLE ENERGY
FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR
HYDROGEN ELECTROLYSIS
Optimisation of cells through porous metallic components
The use of woven wire cloth and fi bre fl eeces in modern fuel cells ensures effi ciency and durability
he steadily growing global hydrogen industry has unique, future-oriented prospects in the fi elds of energy supply, transport and logistics. To take up and use these trends economically on a large scale, materials must be fl exible in their properties and automated to a high degree with regard to their manufacturing processes. T is already applies to woven wire cloth, metal fi bre fl eece and laminates. Some manufacturers of corresponding materials from the screening and fi ltration sector, which have developed into highly technical products over time, are already successful in the future market of hydrogen. Among them is the long- established German company Dorstener Drahtwerke, which off ers several solutions for effi cient hydrogen production, e.g. with regard to precisely scalable water, gas or ion transport. T e products have special capabilities that are optimally suited for various aspects of electrolysis. For example, suitably designed
T
wire mesh ensures a particularly high permeability of the gas diff usion layer,
while at the same time distributing the electrolyte very well. T is prevents the membrane from drying out and thus
protects against an undersupply of water, reduced conductivity and ultimately an undesired increase in cell voltage. Fabric thicknesses with tolerances in the μm range and a precisely defi nable structure also enable the design of uniform current distribution with precisely defi nable conductor cross-sections. In addition, they are available in many diff erent materials, such as nickel, titanium, stainless steel and nickel-based materials, some of which are mechanically highly resilient and fl exible, which can be a decisive advantage depending on the process. Metal fi bre fl eeces, which are also in
the portfolio of Dorstener Drahtwerke in the material titanium grade 1, among others, score points with porosities, fi bre thicknesses and overall thicknesses that can be defi ned exactly according to customer requirements, whereby good fl ow rates go hand in hand with a smooth surface here. T is ensures a low risk of membrane damage even at higher pressures.
MULTILAYER COMPOSITE SYSTEMS A comprehensive solution that Dorstener Drahtwerke, as one of few companies in Germany, can also off er for hydrogen production based on decades of expertise, are sintered, porous laminates. T ese multilayer composite systems made of woven wire cloth, fi bre fl eeces and, if necessary, other metallic components combine all the advantages of the porous media used in each case and are as easy to handle in the production of a stack for hydrogen electrolysis as a comparable piece of sheet metal. T e porous media can be adapted to each customer’s needs through optimised combination and thus ensure the greatest possible effi ciency in the generation of hydrogen. T e Dorstener Drahtwerke Group has set itself the task of promoting the use of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly, cost-eff ective alternative to fossil fuels in the best possible way by developing and optimising its own broad product range. In this endeavour, the experience gained from more than 100 years of working with metallic materials together with the most modern production and fi nishing processes are incorporated into innovative products that are known worldwide for the highest quality and customer benefi ts.
Laminates combine all the advantages of the respective media used and are easy to handle
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Fibre fl eeces ensure precisely defi nable porosities, fi bre thicknesses and overall thicknesses with good fl ow rates and smooth surfaces
Woven wire cloth is available in many diff erent designs with diff erent mechanical properties
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