D3T4H2S

Project Objectives

The green hydrogen market will likely grow significantly over the next few years because there is more demand for clean energy sources, and the government is doing more to build a sustainable environment. Hydrogen could be a vital part of a sustainable energy system in the future because it can help get carbon out of the transportation sector. Material science and artificial intelligence (AI) discoveries lead to much new science and technology, such as green hydrogen technologies. These technologies try to meet the challenge of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to help with climate change and the energy crisis. So, it is clear that AI is one way to make the environment more sustainable. The project tackles a global challenge in reaching affordable and clean energy targets by addressing the design of a small-scale proof-of-concept storage vessel in collaboration with SVERTICAL (an industrial partner). The complexity of the topic is strongly related to many aspects involving material sciences, structural thermomechanics, and structure design. The holistic treatment of such aspects exceeds the possibilities of a single research project. Thus, attention will mainly focus on the elaboration of a hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 12 doped with carbon nanotubes for designing ultralight cryogenic composite vessels (ULCCVs) and on the multi-scale and multi-physical study of its long-term behavior at cryogenic temperatures, its permeability performances, and the issue of damage initiation and propagation. The applicants ambition for the mainstream is to develop ULCCV base materials that provide structural integrity and adequate microcrack resistance against harsh chemicals, thermal, and mechanical loads, as well as the development of an expert tool for better life-cycle management and accurate predictive maintenance, allowing it to reduce costs and maintain a competitive advantage for hydrogen applications. The latter makes sense in digitalization by developing digital and/or hybrid twins dedicated to real-time prediction and correction.

Expected Results

Our project aims to advance hydrogen storage technology, which is essential in achieving net zero targets (see the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development). This seed funding will link our multidisciplinary expertise in modeling to practical experiments and the manufacturing process with our industrial partner. The planned field visit will provide the modelers with comprehensive information about industrial processes and build an industrial partnership, uniquely placing us in the position to produce, test, and develop a digital twin for hydrogen storage vessels from conception to full deployment. As part of its plan to decarbonize the region, the European Union (EU) is investigating how renewable hydrogen may be used to reduce emissions. Fewer than two percent of Europes current energy usage comes from hydrogen. Natural gas is used in 96% hydrogen generation, leading to substantial CO2 emissions. Hydrogen storage capabilities are beneficial for power networks since they provide long-term and massive renewable energy storage. Hydrogen's ability to smooth out supply and demand in times of surplus or deficit power generation bodes well for its use in increasing EU member states' energy productivity. The REpowerEU plan aims to raise EU renewable hydrogen production and imports to a total of 20 million tons by 2030, up from 5.6 million tons in 2020. Meanwhile, Africa's 54 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2020 amounts to just 2% of the worlds total. If the EU wants to make a real impact on the hydrogen imports it expects and promote domestic decarbonization efforts, it must aid African nations in rapidly expanding their use of renewable energy and improving their energy efficiency. The economic advantages of EU-AU hydrogen trade with Africa are enormous. The EU should encourage the development of climate- neutral industries to reduce the continent's reliance on commodity exports, which are subject to price instability. In doing so, African countries could export low-carbon goods with more value than renewable hydrogen. This project aims to propose a new methodology to provide designers and manufacturers in the automotive and aeronautical fields with robust tools for predicting the behavior and properties of hydrogen storage tanks in the cryogenic state. Indeed, the scientific advances of the D3T4H2S project will lead to major technological leaps. They will inevitably increase the competitiveness of the SMEs or technical centers on the African and European continents to help them meet the challenges of tomorrow. The implementation of the project thus reinforces the visibility of our two continents and strengthens their interaction with the international socio-economic environment.

• project team:

• 1. Viorel MINZU - Leader UDJG team cv
• 2. Eugen RUSU - Senior Scientist cv
• 3. Ana-Maria CHIROSCA - Postdoctoral researcher cv
• 4. Magduta Chivu – Financiar Responsible

YEAR 2024

A. Works published in international journals
1. Mînzu, V.; Arama, I.; Rusu, E., 2024, Machine Learning Algorithms that Emulate Controllers based on Particle Swarm Optimization - An Application to a Photobioreactor for Algae Growth Processes 2024, 12, 991. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12050991; (Q2, IF=3.5);

D3T4H2S - Workshops

D3T4H2S - Certificates

1. Viorel Minzu and Eugen RUSU, “Certificate of acceptance for the manuscript (processes-2999578) titled: Machine Learning Algorithms that Emulate Controllers based on Particle Swarm Optimization - An Application to a Photobioreactor for Algae Growth”

D3T4H2S - Announces