M. Sc. Fabian.Hagen@kit.edu

Chemical engineering/process engineering students with a passion for process engineering challenges in the field of energy storage and a preference for experimental work.

Motivation:

Climate-neutral hydrogen production is one of the keys to achieving global climate goals. Basically, the water/iron reaction (3 Fe + 4 H2O à Fe3O4 + 4 H2) allows direct production of hydrogen from water, without the use of fossil fuels. Since iron is a widely available and inexpensive element, the reaction route could be a cost-effective and sustainable method for hydrogen production - compared to other processes that rely on expensive or rare raw materials. Moreover, the hydrogen can be both produced and stored as needed. Thus, the reaction route holds the potential for a continuous energy supply, which is particularly important for balancing fluctuations in renewable energy production.

Aufgabenstellung:

This thesis investigates the water/iron reaction for hydrogen production in a fixed-bed reactor. In a first step, the reactor is to be designed, constructed and commissioned. Subsequently, the hydrogen production rate as well as the water conversion rate as a function of the reactor temperature are to be analyzed using suitable gas phase diagnostics. The degree of iron particle oxidation is also to be analyzed using analytical methods.

Aufgabenstellung:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dimosthenis Trimis