Postdoc In assessing the structural performance of polymers in an alkaline electrolyzer

About this position

Does failure not faze you? Then you might be our next Post-Doc working on the development of accurate, long-term failure models to predict the durability of selected engineering thermoplastics in an high-demanding application that will pave the way for a renewable future.

Information

The global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. One promising technology in this transition is alkaline electrolysis, a method used to produce hydrogen gas from water using electricity. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen in an alkaline solution, typically potassium hydroxide (KOH).

The hydrogen produced can be stored, transported, and used as a clean fuel in various sectors, including industry, transportation, and power generation. Alkaline electrolysis is one of the most mature and cost-effective electrolysis technologies, making it a very likely key player in the development of a green hydrogen economy.

Electrolysis is carried out at elevated temperatures and under pressurized conditions. To contain this pressure, circular cell frames, typically made of metal, are stacked and clamped together with endplates to form the reactor. Metals are commonly used for their strength and durability.

Alternatively, polymers can be employed, offering advantages as reduced weight and suitability for large-scale production through injection moulding. However, these materials face significant challenges, including exposure to high temperatures, sustained mechanical stress, and chemical degradation caused by the alkaline environment of potassium hydroxide (KOH).

For an alkaline electrolyser system that is being developed by Alquion (www.alquion.com), polymers and their mechanical lifetime play a major role. It is of essence to understand their behaviour over the full lifetime (10-20 yrs), including potential failure modes.

In this project we will investigate the long-term performance of selected polymers and develop accurate models to predict their mechanical performance . The project is run in close collaboration with our industrial partner, has a strong experimental character, and is aimed at establishing reliable lifetime predictions for the polymers employed.