News

01/12/2011 - IMEC: Solar power based hydrogen system

Thanks to the innovative techniques that we at ESI-CIT Group use and the state-of-the art systems we design, we are also involved in the fascinating world of new and renewable energy sources. The well being of the earth that we leave our children interests us in particular and we are obviously very pleased to work together with IMEC in the development of an alternative system to generate hydrogen using sunlight.
We build a small test setup for IMEC in which sunlight is reflected onto a set of solar panels using moveable mirrors. In fact, the whole setup rotates and positions itself based on a compass and earth coordinates to maximize solar input. The solar cells generate electricity that is in turn used to generate hydrogen through electrolysis. The hydrogen is temporarily stored in a tank from which it is drawn into a fuel cell to convert it back to electricity. This electricity is used to drive the entire system. As such one could see this system as a ‘perpetuum mobile’, a self-sustaining energy system.
The goal is to replace the solar cells in the future and drive the electrolytic process directly using the sunlight to get to a point where hydrogen can be generated in a fast and eco-friendly fashion. It can be done at present, but the process is too expensive to commercialize. With the new test setup, new techniques can be developed and tested efficiently.
IMEC has asked for ESI-CIT Group’s cooperation based on its strong knowledge to integrate complex mechatronic systems that are at the same time flexible to integrate future developments.

News archive
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