Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas (한국가스학회지)

The Korean Institute of GAS (한국가스학회)
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Development Trends and Industrial Applications of Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression Technology

전기화학적 수소 압축기술 개발 동향 및 산업적 응용

  • Kyuhwan Hyun (Hydrogen Energy Solution Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering) ;
  • Gi Hoon Hong (Hydrogen Energy Solution Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering) ;
  • Sunghyun Uhm (Hydrogen Energy Solution Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering)
  • 현규환 (고등기술연구원 수소에너지솔루션센터) ;
  • 홍기훈 (고등기술연구원 수소에너지솔루션센터) ;
  • 엄성현 (고등기술연구원 수소에너지솔루션센터)
  • Received : 2024.12.03
  • Accepted : 2024.12.16
  • Published : 2024.12.31
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Abstract

Hydrogen has emerged as a key resource in not only the traditional chemical and energy industries but also in new eco-friendly sectors such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fuel cell power generation. The expansion of hydrogen utilization requires advanced technologies for high-purity purification and high-pressure compression, which are critical for ensuring hydrogen storage stability, transportation economy, and efficient supply. Currently, PSA-based hydrogen purification and mechanical compression technologies are commercially utilized, but their separation of purification and compression processes leads to system complexity, as well as noise and vibration problems associated with mechanical methods. To address these issues, Electrochemical Hydrogen Compressor (ECHC) technology, which simultaneously purifies and compresses hydrogen through electrochemical reactions, has gained significant attention. ECHC offers the advantage of reducing noise and vibration while simplifying the process, improving overall efficiency. This paper comprehensively analyzes the research trends and industrial applicability of ECHC. It examines the technology development trends focused on cost reduction and efficiency improvement necessary for advancing ECHC to commercialization. Additionally, the paper discusses the industrial applications of ECHC in various sectors, including post-electrolysis and extracted hydrogen purification and compression, hydrogen transport using city gas networks, and improving hydrogen utilization efficiency in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Based on this, the paper presents the development directions for future research and applications

수소는 기존의 화학 및 에너지 산업을 넘어 수소전기차와 연료전지 발전 등 새로운 친환경 산업에서도 핵심 자원으로 자리 잡고 있다. 이러한 수소 활용의 확장에는 고순도 정제와 고압 압축 기술이 필수적으로 요구되며, 이는 수소의 저장 안정성, 운송 경제성, 그리고 공급 효율성을 보장하는 중요한 기술로 평가된다. 현재 상업적으로 활용되고 있는 PSA 기반 수소 정제 및 기계식 압축 기술은 정제와 압축을 분리하여 처리하는 방식으로인한 시스템의 복잡성과 기계식 방식에서 유발되는 소음과 진동 등이 문제로 지적된다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해, 전기화학적 반응을 기반으로 정제와 압축을 동시에 수행하는 전기화학적 수소 압축기(ECHC) 기술이 주목받고 있다. ECHC는 기존 기술에서 발생하는 소음과 진동을 줄이고, 공정을 단순화함으로써 효율성을 높이는 장점을 제공한다. 본 논문은 ECHC를 상용화 단계로 끌어올리기 위한 비용 절감과 효율 개선을 중심으로 한 기술 개발 동향과 산업적 활용 가능성을 종합적으로 분석하였다. 또한, 수전해 및 추출수소 생산 이후의 정제·압축 공정, 도시가스 네트워크를 활용한 수소 이송, 수소전기차의 수소 이용 효율 향상 등 다양한 산업적 응용 사례를 통해 ECHC의 활용 가능성을 논의하고, 이를 바탕으로 기술 개발 방향을 제시하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 산업통상자원부(MOTIE)와 한국에너지기술평가원(KETEP)의 지원을 받아 수행한 연구 과제입니다. (No. RS202400419764)

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