AEA activities on Hydrogen issues since 2002
Hydrogen as Energy Vector
The AEA group has been involved in the use of H2 as an energy vector since 2002, from the visit of Dr. Juan C. Bolcich to Santa Cruz, in which the guidelines of the future Experimental Hydrogen Plant in Pico Truncado were established, whose construction began in 2003 at the initiative of the AAH ( Argentine Hydrogen Association ) and the Municipality of Pico Truncado. Once again, due to the reduction in the cost of renewable energy sources (wind, solar) and the need to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable global economy based on clean energy, a significant boost has been seen since 2019 in the different applications of Hydrogen as an energy vector. , especially in relation to the so-called "green hydrogen" produced by clean sources (wind - solar) alternatives to the traditional reforming (reforming) of methane or other fuels fossils. This It includes to his production fundamentally via electrolysis to through from sources renewable from energy, and also to leave from sources organic (ethanol) . The research and development with financing public and private, on everything on the industrialized world (due to the advantages from cleaning and reduced pollution) and on less measure in countries on pathways from growth What Argentina, Brazil and Chile is allowing what many technologies go beyond the pre-commercial stage and enter higher levels of reliability at a reasonable cost.
AEA and the Pico Truncado Experimental Hydrogen Plant
Since 2003, the AEA began the Research Project UNPA 29/A136 "Use of Hydrogen as
Energy Vector - Evaluation of technologies applicable to the economy
regional” UNPA, under the external direction of Dr. JC Bolcich.
Download Technical Report 29A136(2007)
Since that initial link, the AEA has participated in multiple activities carried out in the H2 experimental plant, especially with regard to wind energy courses and instrumentation of the existing Stuart Electrolyzer (5kW)
Building
Started in 2004
Properties of Hydrogen
Hydrogen is emerging as an ideal synthetic fuel, for the following reasons:
It is the most abundant element in nature.
Stores the largest amount of energy per unit weight (142 MJ/kg ≡ 33.3 kWh/kg)
Its combustion produces water, does not pollute the environment
It is storable as a pressurized gas (in vehicles at 350 or 700 bar), as a liquid at low temperatures (-253 °C) or in solid structures (hydrides, carbon nanotubes). Other viable alternatives are green ammonia (NH3) produced with electrolysis of water and nitrogen from the air, and e-fuels or synthetic fuels.
As well is transportable by pipes for use direct on burners or engines producing heat by clean combustion, or direct conversion of their chemical energy into electricity in the so-called fuel cells or fuel cells .
Argentine Hydrogen Association
Website: https://aah2.org/
Publications: H2 Magazine / Dir. JLAprea
Download Article PDF September 2020 in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (JLAprea / JCBolcich) "The energy transition towards hydrogen utilization for green life and sustainable human development in Patagonia"
Experimental activities at Plant H2- Pico Truncado
Since its inception, the AAH has developed various experimental activities at the plant, from basic experiments with internal combustion engines adapted to H2, to reaching a pre-industrial stage in 2012-2013 with the acquisition of a 500 kW AccaGen alkaline electrolyser.
Measurements on Stuart 5 kW electrolyser
As of Project 29/A136, a cooperation between AEA and the H2 Plant began to carry out automated measurements with a SISMED/H equipment on the operation of the Stuart 5kW low-power electrolyser donated by the University of Quebec.
Plant H2- Pico Truncado - Visit with UNPA-UARG Chemical Engineering Students (11-2015)
General Plant Diagram
Presentation at Congress
H2+FuelCells (Vancouver, 2013)
Presentation on Pico Truncado H2 Plant of Mg. Ing. Rafael Oliva at the H2+FuelCells 2013 congress in Vancouver, Canada, June 2013.
