Name of Project Leader: Professor SGHAIER Nour

Names of the involved researchers:        

• BEN NASRALLAH ABDI Samia
• KHEMILI FAYCEL
• BEN AMARA Mohamed Amine
• EL OUKABI Houda

Names of PhD students:

• BAHRINI Imen
• FEKIH Oumeima
• LASSOUED Norhene

 1. Summary

The manufacturing process of active and diffusion layers in hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFC) is based on drying and dispersion techniques (referred to as inks). The project is structured around two themes: the first aims to study the functionalization of fibrous substrates for the diffusion layer. Its goal is to identify the drying conditions that allow for the deposition of PTFE and controlled hydrophobicity. The second theme will focus on the drying of inks for catalytic layers and microporous layers. The objective of this part is the fundamental study of the relationships between the properties of the nanoporous layers of PEMFC, the catalytic layer, and the microporous layer, as well as the formulation of inks and drying conditions.

We will develop numerical simulations of the deposition of PTFE particles on the fibres of the GDL substrate during drying. This entire work will constitute a first step toward the numerical generation of a PEMFC single cell and the prediction of its performance based on the composition of the inks.

2. Methodology:

• Investigating PTFE particle deposition on a carbon support, monitoring drying kinetics through weighing, and characterizing final deposition using SEM and AFM.
• Verifying that acquired knowledge leads to effective control over GDL functionalization, including observations of water distribution using X-ray microtomography and capillary pressure measurements.
•  Exploring the relationship between nanoporous layer properties in PEMFCs, catalytic layers, microporous layers, and ink formulation and drying conditions.
• Analyzing solvent evaporation kinetics and dispersions of increasing complexity, with varied parameters such as initial dispersion volume, temperature, relative humidity, and substrate wettability.
• Using various techniques (SEM, X-ray microtomography, optical profilometry, AFM, pycnometry, mercury porosimetry) to analyze the nanoporous layers. The most promising layers will be imaged using FIB-SEM for 3D microstructure analysis.
• Ultimately, the results will connect drying conditions and ink composition with the structural properties of the resulting nanoporous layers.

3. Cooperation

Collaboration with the Institute of Fluid Mechanics in Toulouse, particularly with the GEMP group. 

Name of Project Leader: Professor MHIMID Abdallah

Names of the involved researchers:        

• TOUATI Hazem
• BEN CHIEKH Maher
• MERGHENI Mohamed Ali
• CHEKIB Ghabi
• BOUTOUB Ahmed

Names of PhD students:

• BDIOUI Hadhemi

1. Summary

Injecting green hydrogen into the existing natural gas network presents an opportunity for reducing pollutant emissions since the combustion of hydrogen produces no carbon. However, there are several challenges to overcome before implementing this solution:

• Assess the interchangeability between this hybrid fuel and natural gas in existing installations.
• Determine the thermodynamic and chemical properties of this fuel.
• Prepare a numerical model for simulating combustion chambers using a hydrogen-natural gas mixture. This model must be capable of predicting:
• The impact of adding hydrogen on the flow dynamics within the chamber.
• The efficiency of combustion.
• The combustion products and pollutant emissions.
• An experimental study remains feasible to ensure the reliability of the model.

2. Methodology:

This research theme comprises two parts: an experimental section and a numerical section.

Experimental Section: Using the burner designed in the laboratory during previous work dedicated to the study of non-premixed jet flames to analyse the impact of hydrogen injection in a combustion chamber under inert and reactive conditions. The fuel supply circuits will be modified for the use of a hybrid fuel (methane-hydrogen). The oxidizer can be air or oxygen.

The experiment will study the influence of:

• The composition of the mixture
• The geometry of the injector, which has been modified
• The flow rates of the fuel and the oxidizer
• On combustion and flow within the burner.

Numerical Study: The numerical section for the simulation is the parametric study of combustion (hydrogen-methane), which requires:

• The development of a numerical model addressing the chemical kinetics of the hybrid fuel
• The integration of this numerical model into the CFD codes already developed within the laboratory
• Taking into account the influence of the presence of hydrogen on turbulence and thermal transfers in the model.

Name of Project Leader: Professor ASKRI Faouzi

Names of the involved researchers:        

• JEMNI Abdelmajid
• DHAOU Mohamed Houcine
• MELLOULI Sofien
• BOUZGAROU Fatma
• BEN SALAH Yasser
• MAATALLAH Taher
• SAKLY Ahlem

Names of PhD students:

• SAIDI Sirine
• MAYOU Ishak  

​​​​1.Objectives

The objective of this project is to study numerically and experimentally the dynamic behaviour of metal-hydrogen reactors and to optimize their operation for application in energy systems. We also propose to study multiple energy production systems (polygeneration) based on renewable energies and green hydrogen. An environmental and economic impact study of green hydrogen will be conducted. To achieve this, we propose to:

• Conduct numerical and experimental studies on Metal-Hydrogen Reactors (RMHs) to enhance hydrogen storage performance.
• Characterize new materials for hydrogen absorption/desorption.
• Model and optimize multiple electric power generation systems based on renewable energies and green hydrogen.
• Assess the environmental and economic impacts of green hydrogen.

2. Methodology:

The methodology for the implementation of the research program is as follows:

For the theoretical part:

• Numerical simulation of the operation of metal-hydrogen reactors, integrating heat pipes and/or the IEM.
• Numerical modeling of a multiple energy production system based on renewable energies and green hydrogen.

For the experimental part:

• Design and construction of a metal-hydrogen reactor to conduct tests on new materials.
• Use of heat pipes for the heating and/or cooling of metal-hydrogen reactors.