SafE and reliabLE COmbustion Technologies powered by Hydrogen

Introduction

Hydrogen is uniquely placed to achieve both energy security and net-zero greenhouse emission goals, provided it can be produced by low-carbon resources and systems powered by hydrogen can be operated safely and reliably. Hydrogen can be burned to produce heat or power. It can also be used in fuel cells to produce electricity.

Challenges of Hydrogen Use

Due to its high reactivity with oxygen, hydrogen often results in violent dynamics that raise challenges in guaranteeing the integrity and reliability of the systems powered by hydrogen, as well as their safety.

Objectives of SELECT-H

The objective of SELECT-H is threefold:

1. Develop fundamental knowledge on combustion science associated with the use of hydrogen in real systems.
2. Develop and validate simulation tools to predict these flows.
3. Develop solutions to favor the shift from technologies powered by hydrocarbon fuels to safe and reliable systems powered only by hydrogen.

Methodology

These objectives will be achieved in SELECT-H by combining:

• Detailed experiments
• Low order physics-based models
• High-fidelity numerical simulations

This will be conducted in two different sets of configurations with large societal impact.

First Set of Configurations

The first set considers technologies in which hydrogen must burn efficiently, including:

• Domestic boilers
• Cooking stoves
• Gas turbines for propulsion and power generation

These technologies cover a wide range of operating conditions, fuel and oxidizer injection schemes, including laminar atmospheric cases and highly turbulent flows at high pressure and elevated temperature, where combustion dynamics can threaten system integrity and reliability.

Second Set of Configurations

The second set considers cases where hydrogen combustion must be avoided. Typically, hydrogen leaks from fuel cells or from high-pressure storages will be considered to understand how hydrogen leaks may ignite and, if they do, how they will interact with walls.

Conclusion

The fundamental knowledge gained in SELECT-H will allow the design of safe and reliable hydrogen-powered units.