EIFHYTEC brings hydrogen compression expertise to DESIREE

Producing renewable hydrogen efficiently is only one part of making it available for different applications. In many cases, hydrogen also needs to be supplied at pressure, making compression an important consideration in the design and efficiency of hydrogen production systems.

DESIREE is exploring a different approach to this challenge as part of the advanced 40 kW multi-stack Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOEL) prototype being developed and validated by the project. By integrating thermochemical hydrogen compression based on metal hydrides, DESIREE aims to make use of available heat within the SOEL system to support the compression process.

This is where project partner EIFHYTEC‘s expertise comes into play. Within DESIREE, the company is developing a Metal Hydride Compressor (MHC) specifically adapted to the requirements of the project’s SOEL system.

Developing hydrogen compression without moving parts

EIFHYTEC is a European industrial company located in Haguenau, France, specialising in the development of innovative hydrogen compressors.

Drawing on more than 15 years of research, the company develops hydrogen compressors based on metal hydrides, a thermochemical technology that operates without moving parts. Its team brings together expertise in mechanics, electrochemistry, thermodynamics and electronics to develop compression solutions for industrial and transport applications.

Using heat to compress hydrogen

Unlike conventional mechanical compression, metal hydride compression relies on the ability of certain materials to absorb and release hydrogen depending on temperature and pressure conditions. This makes thermal management central to the compression process and creates an opportunity for integration with high-temperature electrolysis.

EIFHYTEC is responsible for defining the specifications of the DESIREE compressor and selecting the metal hydride composition best suited to the operating conditions of the SOEL system. The company will also define the architecture of the metal hydride tanks, with particular attention to modularity, and design the auxiliary elements required for electrical integration and heat and cold management.

An important part of the work is therefore not only developing the compressor itself, but adapting it to the thermal characteristics of the DESIREE system. The project will investigate how available heat can contribute to the compression process, with the aim of reducing the additional energy requirements associated with supplying hydrogen at pressure.

From atmospheric pressure towards 30 bar

Following the design and material selection stages, EIFHYTEC will prepare the metal hydride materials, assemble the tanks and build a fully integrated MHC prototype at its facilities in Haguenau.

The DESIREE development targets a hydrogen flow of up to 10 Nm³/h, defining the capacity required for the MHC within the project’s SOEL prototype. More significantly from a system perspective, the MHC is being developed to increase hydrogen pressure from approximately atmospheric pressure to an outlet pressure of up to 30 bar. This would allow DESIREE to explore not only efficient hydrogen production, but also the integrated delivery of hydrogen at substantially higher pressure.

Once developed, the MHC prototype will be integrated and tested together with the SOEL system at VTT. Different levels of integration will be investigated, including coordinated control and thermal coupling between both technologies, allowing the project to evaluate how thermochemical compression performs as part of the complete hydrogen production system.

The results will also feed into DESIREE’s assessment of the technical, economic and scalability potential of the integrated system.

Expertise behind the compressor

EIFHYTEC’s participation in DESIREE brings together technical and industrial expertise in hydrogen compression and metal hydride technologies:

David Colomar – CEO
Kylia Marcus – PhD Research & Development Engineer
Tiffany Reynaert – R&D Technician
Lilian Wadel – R&D Project Manager
Matteo Griveau – R&D Engineer

Reflecting on the potential of integrating hydrogen production and compression, David Colomar said:

“One of the ambitions of DESIREE is to go beyond producing hydrogen efficiently and address how it can be delivered at higher pressure. Reaching an outlet pressure of up to 30 bar through an integrated metal hydride compressor would demonstrate the potential of combining hydrogen production and compression within the same SOEL system“.

Towards future industrial applications

Beyond its integration and validation within DESIREE, the project will also explore the future industrial potential of the Metal Hydride Compressor. For EIFHYTEC, this provides an opportunity to further develop thermochemical compression for SOEL applications and assess its potential for future industrial use.

EIFHYTEC is one of the ten partners working together within DESIREE, coordinated by Spain’s National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER). The consortium also includes the Aragon Institute of Nanoscience and Materials (INMA), Politecnico di Torino, Genvia, the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), VTT and Zabala Innovation.

Their complementary capabilities allow DESIREE to connect developments in materials and stacks with thermal management, hydrogen compression, system integration and control, bringing the different technological elements together within the project’s 40 kW multi-stack SOEL prototype.