Hydrosonics, an American hydrogen energy company founded in 2023, develops advanced alkaline water electrolysis technology. This cutting-edge approach is designed to produce hydrogen at a lower cost, with the aim of facilitating small-scale, affordable, and on-site hydrogen generation. A key aspect of Hydrosonics' strategy is the seamless integration of their technology with renewable energy sources, ensuring that hydrogen production is not only efficient but also sustainable. This integration is crucial as the world shifts towards cleaner energy solutions, making Hydrosonics' technology a vital component in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
Challenges: hydrogen fuel
As the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the power grid continues to grow, the need for effective energy storage systems becomes increasingly critical. These systems are essential for storing excess energy generated during peak production times. Water electrolysis emerges as a promising energy storage technology by utilizing surplus renewable electricity to produce hydrogen (Hâ‚‚) fuel through the electrolysis of water (Hâ‚‚O). The resulting green hydrogen serves as a versatile energy carrier, capable of being used in fuel cells or for powering gas turbines to generate electricity without emitting carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚).
Currently, there are several water electrolysis technologies for producing hydrogen. Among these, alkaline electrolyzers are the most prevalent commercial water electrolysis technology in the multi-megawatt range. The alkaline electrolyzer is fed with a concentrated KOH solution. The electrolyte-filled electrode chambers are separated by a thick porous diaphragm, such as the 500 µm thick AGFA's Zirfon membrane. By absorbing feed solution in its pores, the porous diaphragm becomes conductive. The alkaline water electrolysis process involves two key reactions: the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.
Alkaline electrolyzers can utilize cost-effective materials, such as nickel-based electrodes and steel bipolar plates. Nickel-based catalysts, which are abundant on Earth, demonstrate high performance for the OER but face challenges with low current densities due to limited electrochemical stability at high current densities. The primary stability issues stem from anode degradation, where the OER takes place. This degradation is mainly caused by problems such as gas bubble formation on electrode surfaces, which impedes reactions, increases resistance, and decreases efficiency.
Hydrosonics Technology
Hydrosonics has developed an advanced technology to enhance the stability of efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis using nickel catalysts operating at high current densities using, as illustrated in the diagram below.