International Clean Energy Network Using Hydrogen Conversion (WE-NET) aims at establishment of technologies for constructing the world-wide hydrogen energy network. This system will include hydrogen production from water by make use of electrolysis utilizing reproduceable energies such as hydraulic, solar, geothermal, wind and so on, conversion into transportable medium, transportation to energy consumption areas and utilization for consumption.
R&D for Phase I is divided into the following 9 subtasks.
1.1 Subtask 1: Investigation and study for evaluating and reviewing R & D
Target of this subtask:
- Coordinating all of the individual subtasks related to hydrogen production, transportation, storage and utilization (including hydrogen combustion turbine), and overall evaluation of the results
- Formulation of optimum development programs
- Investigation and study of advances in domestic and foreign technologies related to WE-NET project, and reflection of these advancements upon future programs
1.2 Subtask 2: Review and investigation for promoting international cooperation
Target of this subtask:
- Information exchange with countries or organizations involved in similar projects
- Review and investigation of the method, framework and policy for developing WE-NET project into an international cooperative research program whose objective is establishing a world-scale system
1.3 Subtask 3: Conceptual design of the total system
Target of this subtask:
- Development of a conceptual design encompassing the total system, including such facilities as for electric generation using renewable energy, hydrogen production, production of transportation medium, storage, transportation, and utilization, and technological and economical evaluation
- Estimation of the effect of the introduction of hydrogen energy on long-term energy supply and demand, both from a global viewpoint and from the viewpoint of each country
- Development of safety measures and evaluation technologies viewed at the total WE-NET system
1.4 Subtask 4: Development of hydrogen production technologies
Solid Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolysis has been selected as the electrolysis method for WE-NET project.
Target of this subtask:
- Research required for increasing the scale of Solid Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolysis and the elongation of membrane life
- Development of elemental technology concerning Solid Polymer Electrolyte (Ion exchange membrane), anode and cathode catalysts, materials of cell parts, and so on, and the bench scale test of them
- Establishment of technology required for pilot plant construction
1.5 Subtask 5: Development of hydrogen transportation and storage technology
Although there is very little experience in handling liquid hydrogen as a medium for transportation both in Japan and abroad, liquid hydrogen offers the advantages of being easily transportable in large amounts, being easily converted thus requires simple technology, and being convenient in case of utilization in consuming areas. Therefore, the development stage for Phase I will chiefly research the handling of liquid hydrogen.
Other possible forms of hydrogen transportation will be dealt with in Subtask 3 (Conceptual design of the total system) in consideration of R&D progress and practicality of liquid hydrogen.
Target of this subtask:
- Basic study and development of the elemental technology required for hydrogen liquefaction, transportation, storage, and so on
- To obtain information required for long-distance marine transportation and small scale transportation and storage
- Development of elemental technology in some fields concerning large-capacity hydrogen liquefaction facility and various devices for common use
- Development of large-capacity hydrogen liquefaction facility
- Development of liquid hydrogen transportation tanker
- Development of liquid hydrogen storage facility
- Development of devices for common use (large-capacity liquid hydrogen pumps, adiabatic piping, valves)
- Development of hydrogen-absorbing alloys for small-scale transportation and storage system
1.6 Subtask 6: Development of cryogenic materials technology
Target of this subtask:
- To obtain fundamental knowledge about toughness, fatigue and serration caused by liquid hydrogen behavior at low temperature
- Establishment of a method to evaluate cryogenic material proper for hydrogen embrittlement in order to judge whether new cryogenic materials development is necessary
- Investigation and evaluation of welding techniques and materials usable in the state of liquid hydrogen
- Presentation of desires from the materials' point of view regarding Development of Hydrogen Transportation and Storage Technology (Subtask 5)
1.7 Subtask 7: Feasibility study on utilization of hydrogen energy
Target of this subtask:
- Investigation of technologies using hydrogen and estimation of the consumption of hydrogen in different fields, such as electric power, transportation, other industry or civil use
- Investigation of different methods of using hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, methanol, and so on to clarify the merits and demerits of implementing each technology
- Extracting developmental themes of hydrogen utilization
- Investigation and evaluation of technology using liquefied hydrogen cryogenic energy
1.8 Subtask 8: Development of hydrogen-combustion turbine
Target of this subtask:
- Investigation and research of elementary technologies for a hydrogen-combustion turbine that is expected to perform dramatically high efficiency
- Establishment of basic technologies needed to construct a pilot plant
- The R&D is planned as follows:
- Study for an optimum system for hydrogen-combustion turbine
- Development of the combustion control technology
- Development of turbine blade, rotor and other major components
- Development of major auxiliary equipment
- Development of super-pyrogenic materials
1.9 Subtask 9: Study of innovative and leading technologies
WE-NET is a superlong-term project that aims at world-wide diffusion in the year around 2030. That means there may be some certain innovative and pioneering technologies not included in its R&D objects though promising for the future will make much progress. On the other hand, incorporation of existing technologies in WE-NET project may be necessary depending upon the trend of technological improvements.
Such being the case, targets of this subtask are:
- Research and evaluation of innovative, pioneering, and existing technologies
- Research of elementary technology, and reflection of promising technologies upon WE-NET project
Schedule of R&D for Phase I is shown in Table 1
In FY 1 994, research on the existing technologies was the center of R&D activities in each developmental field, but a study on elementary technologies was also commenced in some fields. Major results obtained will be summarized below;
2.1 Subtask 1: Investigation and study for evaluating and reviewing R&D
Investigation of a pilot plant of Phase II was commenced.
2.2 Subtask 2: Review and investigation for promoting international cooperation
- International symposium was held to promote exchanges of technologies and information; and
- Investigations were made on the formation of global network and long-term vision.
2.3 Subtask 3: Conceptual design of the total system
- The conceptual design of total system was made with liquid hydrogen as the target to estimate facility cost and economy on a trial basis.
- In order to evaluate the effects obtained by introducing the hydrogen energy on the bases of world-scale, nation-scale and municipal scale, improvement and coordination of the existing simulation model were commenced.
- Selection on accident cases to occur and investigation of analytical codes were started for safety evaluation.
2.4 Subtask 4: Investigation and development of hydrogen production technologies
Based on three different technologies of electrode bonding methods, chemical plating, hot press method and porous electrocatalyst method, a small-capacity laboratory cell evaluation facility with a capacity of 50 cm3 was made to carry out performance evaluation. Also, developments on hydrogen production by zero-gap method and on high temperature and strength solid electrolyte were commenced.
2.5 Subtask 5: Development of hydrogen transportation and storage technology
- Development of large-capacity hydrogen liquefaction facility
Process investigations were carried out roughly on the helium Brayton cycle and hydrogen Claude cycle as the liquefaction cycle.
- Development of liquid hydrogen transportation tanker
Basic specifications were determined and a conceptual design was made on a tanker carrying square-shaped tanks with the same-capacity as that carrying sphere-shaped tanks each with a capacity of 200,000 m3, the external appearances of which are shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
- Development of liquid hydrogen storage facility
Basic system flow was investigated and specifications of facility unit of storage site were determined roughly.
- Development of devices for common use (large-capacity hydrogen pumps, adiabatic piping, valves)
A survey was continuously carried out on large-capacity liquid hydrogen pump, heat insulation piping, liquid hydrogen valve and measurement units to extract technical themes.
- Development of hydrogen absorbing alloys for small-scale transportation and storage system
Investigations were made on magnesium alloys small in weight but large in hydrogen storage capacity as well as on the improvement effect of characteristics by nano-crystallization.
2.6 Subtask 6: Development of cryogenic materials technology
Out of typical existing structural materials, stainless steels, SUS304L and SUS316L and aluminum alloy, A5084, were selected and tested on mechanical properties at the helium temperature level as well as on the hydrogen embrittlement to collect data for them.
2.7 Subtask 7: Feasibility study on utilization of hydrogen energy
Field investigation were carried out on various hydrogen utilization technologies to extract technical problems and analyzed them.
2.8 Subtask 8: Development of hydrogen-combustion turbine
- Study for an optimum system for hydrogen-combustion turbine
Several types of system of hydrogen-combustion turbine were investigated and an electric power generation efficiency of 60% was confirmed to be attained as shown in Table 2.
- Development of combustion control technology
A small-scale burner was made for achieving the basic test of hydrogen-oxygen combustion burner and flame stability and combustibility were evaluated.
- Development of turbine blade, rotor and other major components
Though evaluated based on the calculation, even when both moving and stationary blades were made of existing metallic materials, it was confirmed that they could be withstood the turbine inlet temperature of 1700(C by improving the cooling technology of blades.
- Development of major auxiliary equipment
Research and investigation were made on the heat-transfer promotion technology of high temperature heat exchanger as well as on its type, structure and materials to be used and so on. Oxygen production system utilizing the cryogenics of liquid hydrogen was also researched and investigated.
- Development of super-pyrogenic materials
Heat-resistant alloy, intermetallic compound, ceramic-system composite and C/C composite which are promised as materials for making ultra-high temperature components such as blade of hydrogen-combustion turbine were tested and evaluated to make clear their basic characteristics (physical, chemical and mechanical properties).
2.9 Subtask 9: Study of innovative and leading technologies
In order to find innovative and leading technologies, research and investigation were carried out and at the same time, the evaluation procedures of these technologies were considered.
Research, basic investigation and study of elementary technologies and other investigations will be carried out continuously to FY 1994 to obtain necessary information for the optimum design of the total system and make sure of establishment of technologies required to design and construct a pilot plant.
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