Scientists At IIT-BHU Claim Building A Device for On-Site Hydrogen Production

Scientists of IIT (BHU) Varanasi have developed what they claim is a first of its kind device in India for the on-site production of ultra-pure Hydrogen. At a time when India has committed to zero net emissions by 2070 at the COP 26 Climate Summit this is a major development in the Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Led by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, the device is 100 percent indigenous and every component made in the IIT (BHU) facilities. It also follows a previous development of a membrane reformer prototype by Dr Upadhyay and his team, announced in May this year. The focus there was on ease and safety. The project is supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India.

Made in India, For India

The device is easily installable in petrol pumps, while some of the critical needs it can deliver include generating hydrogen for hydrogen vehicles, make charging of EVs easy and supply of power to mobile towers, among others.

The compact and ergonomically designed device cater towards sustainability and portrays socio and economic benefits. It is based on membrane technology for on-site production of ultra-pure hydrogen from methanol. It generates hydrogen which is fed to the fuel cell to generate power (electricity). Further, the produced power can be used for EV charging, supply power to mobile towers, and can also be installed at petrol pumps to generate hydrogen for hydrogen-based vehicles. The device is easy to use and covers a minimum space of 2 m² area. Moreover, it requires only 0.6 lit/hr of methanol for the production of around 900 lit/hr of hydrogen

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The Government of India recently launched the National Hydrogen Mission and National Electric Mobility Mission Plan to reduce the carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels. However, it pertains to two major concerns – firstly, charging EVs through clean and green energy and secondly, commercializing hydrogen energy’s storage and transportation. Understanding the need, the experts from IIT (BHU) Varanasi stepped up their support and effort to solve both of these issues through this device.

The team recently demonstrated this device and produced 1kW power by integrating it with a PEM fuel cell. The team is also developing a self-sustaining device that will not require any external energy for its operation.

The Promise of Solving Huge Challenges

Leading the research, Dr. Upadhyay stated that, “The indigenously designed device is India’s first of its kind producing Ultra- Pure Hydrogen. This innovation can be used to develop a mobile EV charging station and with its use the  EVs can be charged without using the grid power. It can also be used to power the mobile tower, which at present need around 3-5 kW power and mostly run on diesel generators. Hence, this new device will foster an economic benefit by reducing the infrastructure and power industry load. We are also looking at replacing diesel generators and reducing diesel consumption significantly through this.”

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Dr. Upadhyay and his team are also working to make a similar kind of device that will be operated using natural gas. It will produce hydrogen at a much lower cost and will be even more compact. The project is funded by GAIL (India) Ltd. He added that soon he will start testing the natural gas-based device for on-site hydrogen generation.

Professor Pramod Kumar Jain, Director IIT (BHU) Varanasi, said that “The prototype unit based on the membrane technology promotes the impactful initiatives of the Honourable Prime Minister for ‘Make in India’ and ‘Self-reliant India’. The developed device can potentially change the hydrogen energy prospects in India and make hydrogen an energy source for fueling India’s transportation and power needs. This technology can be a turning point not only in the research areas but also to each and every individual in one way or the other. With efficient experts and researchers on board, the Institute is working on all aspects of hydrogen energy and is willing to establish a center of excellence in the Institute to accommodate the production and utilization of hydrogen energy for useful applications, especially in the transport and mobile sector.”