The Elhytec Innovation

At the crossroad of electrometallurgy and water electrochemistry!

Process

The technology is a cyclical brick for long-term energy conversion/storage, and is the result of the combination of 2 processes:

– upstream, a flexible aqueous electrolytic conversion of a metallic salt, with the formation of storage in metallic and proton media, at ambient temperature and pressure.

-downstream, on demand, destocking and restitution of energy by a catalyzed hydrogen discharge, with cogeneration of heat, pressure or electricity, allowing coupling with uses requiring electricity, heat or gas

This results in a 4-stroke cycle:

1

electric charging based on electrical availability/opportunities

electrolysis of metallic salt and conversion in metal and protons

2

stable storage

with 2 components at ambiant temperature and pressure

3

on demand hydrogen discharge

without adding energy, releasing of gas and redissolving the metal in the form of salt

4

stand-by

return to initial state, waiting for the next electric recharge

                                        First generation of machines

 

 

Equipment design & implementation 

The design of the equipment for implementing the process is carried out by prioritizing:

  • the simplicity and safety of running
  • the independent and personalized sizing of the 3 functions: charging (electrical) power, quantity of stored energy, discharge power (hydrogen flow rate adjusted on use)

 

The technology makes it possible to take full advantage of the flexibility properties of the hydrogen vector, while going beyond the limitations of its conventional value chains: lack of flexibility of water electrolysis, complexity including self-discharge, gas losses/leaks, stages of compression, transformation, storage, distribution, in the form of pressurized gas, cryogenic liquid, organic vectors…..

Features and benefits

Flexibility

  • Decoupled sizing for Power Recharge/Storage Amount/Power Discharge 
  • Electric recharge indifferent to intermittency and stop &go
  • On-demand discharge, with a single valve movement, without priming energy
  • Flexibility of delivery thanks to the hydrogen vector (gas, heat, electricity)

Sustainability

  • Technology based on readily available, non-strategic, recyclable materials
  • Inorganic solution, based on a saline electrolyte, with the possibility to use wastes (oxide/salts) for the storage load
  • No emissions or waste, no toxic gases, no residue in the cycle

Competitiveness

  • Very low CAPEX per stored kWh and per kW of recharge/discharge: industrial and simplified design (direct DC coupling, no electrolyzer membrane, optimized H2 drying …)
  • Long-term storage from 10 hours to several months without self-discharge

Safety

  • “Gas-free” process: No gaseous storage, or H2 accumulation (generated only upon demand), no leak
  • Storage at ambient temperature and pressure
  • No O2 / H2 coexistence

Ease of implementation

  • Storage in two metallic and ionic components, easy to accumulate and transfer with industrial means
  • No restrictive regulation (Seveso…)

A Question or Specific Request?

Contact Us Directly