Hydrogen energy industry chain and temperature sensor

Hydrogen energy refers to the energy released by hydrogen during physical and chemical changes, which can be used for energy storage, power generation, fuel for various vehicles, household fuel, itp. Hydrogen energy is also a secondary energy, green and zero-emission, or energy form.

[Hydrogen energy industry chain]
Upstream: hydrogen production, storage and transportation, hydrogen refueling station operation;
Midstream: fuel cell system and parts manufacturing;
Downstream: hydrogen fuel cell application and many other links.

PT100 k-type E-type thermocouple temperature sensor for hydrogen energy vehicles

NTC temperature sensor for hydrogen fuel cells

DS18b20 temperature sensor for hydrogen energy vehicles

The hydrogen production path will vary according to the resource endowment of the hydrogen production site. The hydrogen storage link is mainly gaseous hydrogen storage, but the prospects for alloy hydrogen storage are good. The hydrogen refueling station link will present a pattern of coexistence and complementarity between central hydrogen production and distributed hydrogen production. The opportunities in the fuel cell link are proton exchange membranes, low-cost catalysts and hydrogen storage bottles. The automotive market is the largest in the downstream application link, and the hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicle market is expected to explode first in the automotive application market.

1. Hydrogen production
Hydrogen production is an important link in the hydrogen energy industry chain. According to the production technology, it can be divided into fossil energy hydrogen production, industrial by-product hydrogen production and water electrolysis hydrogen production:
Fossil energy hydrogen production (also known as gray hydrogen) is the main source of hydrogen in my country. It has a low production cost, but high carbon emissions, which is not conducive to the realization of my country’s “3060” goal;

Industrial by-product gas hydrogen production (i.e. blue hydrogen) mainly refers to the hydrogen obtained when producing chemical products such as coke oven gas, synthetic ammonia, and synthetic methanol.

Water electrolysis hydrogen production (i.e. green hydrogen) does not emit greenhouse gases during the hydrogen production process, and the hydrogen purity is high. It is the main direction of hydrogen production in the future. However, the current electricity consumption of water electrolysis hydrogen production is large and the production cost is high.

2. Hydrogen storage and transportation
Hydrogen storage and transportation is a key link restricting the development of my country’s hydrogen energy industry. As the lightest gas in nature, hydrogen has unique physical and chemical properties, which makes storage and transportation very difficult and costly, which has also become one of the reasons hindering the development of the hydrogen energy industry. A hydrogen storage method corresponds to a hydrogen transportation method. At present, there are four main ways to store and transport hydrogen, namely, high-pressure gas, low-temperature liquid hydrogen, organic liquid and solid storage and transportation.

Today, the technology of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage is mature, and it will become the main hydrogen storage technology promoted by my country in the future; low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage and transportation is mainly used in the aerospace field; organic liquid and solid storage and transportation are still in the research and demonstration stage.

3. Hydrogen refueling station
The main components of the hydrogen refueling station are hydrogen refueling machine, hydrogen compressor (accounting for about 30% of the total cost), hydrogen storage bottle group, itp. The current development direction of equipment manufacturing is to accelerate the localization process of hydrogen compressors, thereby reducing the construction cost of hydrogen refueling stations.

As of July 5, 2022, my country has built a total of 272 hydrogen refueling stations. Among them, Guangdong Province has the largest number of stations, reaching 52, and Shandong Province has 29, ranking second in the country. The number of stations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is more than 20. Among the municipalities, Shanghai has the largest number of stations, reaching 15. Beijing has 14. At present, except for Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu, my country has achieved full coverage of hydrogen refueling stations. According to the planning of the number of hydrogen refueling stations, the total planned number will exceed 800 in 2025.

IV. Midstream of the hydrogen energy industry chain
In the midstream of the hydrogen energy industry chain, the main focus is on fuel cells and their eight key components:

1. Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. The basic principle is the reverse reaction of water electrolysis. Fuel cells are more complex than common lithium battery systems, mainly consisting of a battery stack (the core of the entire battery system) and system components (air compressor, humidifier, hydrogen circulation pump, hydrogen storage bottle group).
△ Working principle of fuel cell system-hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the anode and cathode respectively. After hydrogen diffuses outward through the anode and reacts with the electrolyte, it releases electrons to reach the cathode through the external load.

2. Eight key components of fuel cells
In the field of hydrogen energy, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology divides the eight key components of fuel cells into: fuel cell stack, bipolar plate, membrane electrode, proton exchange membrane, catalyst, gas diffusion layer, air compressor and hydrogen circulation pump, which is also the key link that my country needs to overcome in developing the hydrogen energy industry.

The fuel cell stack, the core component of the engine system, is the place where hydrogen and oxygen undergo electrochemical reactions and generate electricity.

Since the output power of a single fuel cell unit is small, multiple fuel cell units are usually connected in series to form a stack to increase the output power. Therefore, the stack is a composite component composed of alternating bipolar plates and membrane electrodes, with seals embedded between each monomer, and tightened with screws after the front and rear end plates are pressed. In the cost of a fuel cell vehicle, the fuel cell system accounts for about 60%, and the fuel cell stack accounts for more than 62% of the cost of the fuel cell system, so reducing the cost of the fuel cell stack is the key to developing the fuel cell vehicle industry.

Bipolar plates account for about 60-80% of the mass of the fuel cell stack, 20-40% of the cost, and almost occupy the entire volume of the fuel cell stack, playing the role of supporting the mechanical structure, evenly distributing gas, draining water, conducting heat and electricity.

According to different materials, bipolar plates can be divided into graphite bipolar plates, metal bipolar plates and composite bipolar plates. Graphite bipolar plates – light weight, strong stability and high corrosion resistance, but poor mechanical properties. Metal bipolar plates – strong mechanical properties, thin thickness, good gas barrier, but easy to corrode and short life. Composite bipolar plates – have the advantages of both graphite plates and metal plates, but the preparation process is complicated and the cost is high.

Membrane electrodes are mainly composed of proton exchange membranes, catalysts, frames and gas diffusion layers, and are generally a seven-layer stacked structure.

At present, the performance gap between products produced by domestic and foreign membrane electrode manufacturers is getting smaller and smaller, and membrane electrodes with low preparation prices, high performance and good durability have also become the focus of domestic and foreign manufacturers. Judging from the layout of domestic enterprises, the expansion of membrane electrode enterprises will accelerate after 2021, and double-sided direct coating technology and membrane electrode integrated molding technology are becoming mainstream.

Proton exchange membranes have the functions of isolating electrons, separating the positive and negative poles, and conducting protons. The manufacturing process is complex and has high technical barriers and qualification barriers.

According to the fluorine content, proton exchange membranes can be divided into perfluorosulfonic acid membranes, partially fluorinated polymer membranes, new non-fluorinated polymer membranes, composite membranes, itp. Perfluoro proton exchange membranes are widely used due to their excellent thermal stability, chemical stability, high mechanical strength and high degree of industrialization.

Fuel cell catalysts are divided into platinum catalysts, low-platinum catalysts, and non-platinum catalysts.

In the industrial production of catalysts, my country lags far behind foreign countries and has relied on imports for a long time. This has not only pushed up the cost of fuel cells, but also restricted the development of my country’s hydrogen energy industry. At present, the localization process of fuel cell catalysts in my country is accelerating. Recently, the fuel cell catalyst production line of Zhongzi Environmental Protection has been completed and successfully passed the acceptance. Since the completion of the environmentally friendly production line, it has great significance for the core materials of fuel cells to advance towards localization, achieve technical control and reduce costs.

The gas diffusion layer is usually composed of a base layer and a microporous layer. After the base layer of the gas diffusion layer is hydrophobic, a single or multiple microporous layers are coated on it to form a gas diffusion layer. It plays an important role in supporting the catalytic layer, collecting current, conducting gas and discharging reaction product water in fuel cells.

According to the different base layers, it can be divided into carbon fiber paper substrate, carbon cloth substrate and metal substrate. At present, most fuel cell manufacturers use gas diffusion layer products from manufacturers such as Japan’s Toray, the United States AvCarb, and Germany’s SGL. However, my country’s General Hydrogen Energy, Jiangsu Hydrogen Power and other companies can basically benchmark international advanced products at the technical level and are expected to achieve industrialization.

Hydrogen circulation pump, my country’s mainstream hydrogen circulation product. If the battery stack is compared to the “heart” of the fuel cell, then hydrogen is the “blood”, and the hydrogen circulation system is the “strong myocardium” to ensure the flow of “blood”. Hydrogen circulation products mainly include hydrogen circulation pumps and hydrogen ejectors: Compared with hydrogen ejectors, hydrogen circulation pumps have the advantages of active adjustability, fast response speed, and wide working range.

Air compressors are composed of compression elements, drivers, and mechanical equipment that drives compressor elements.

Unlike ordinary air compressors, fuel cell air compressors need to meet many stringent requirements such as oil-free, low noise, high reliability, high efficiency, miniaturization, wide working range, good dynamic response capability, and good thermal management. In terms of market share, the degree of localization of fuel cell air compressors is relatively high, and leading domestic companies include Kingston, Segatron, itp.

V. Downstream of the hydrogen energy industry chain
In the downstream of the industry chain, the application of hydrogen energy is mainly reflected in transportation, power generation, energy storage, industry and other scenarios, among which transportation is an important breakthrough for hydrogen energy consumption.

As of April 30, 2022, a total of 8,198 fuel cell vehicles have been connected to the National Monitoring and Management Platform for New Energy Vehicles. Among them, fuel cell buses are the largest, with a total of 4,241 connected, accounting for 51.73% of the total; special vehicles are connected, accounting for 3,945, accounting for 48.12%, including logistics special vehicles, engineering special vehicles and sanitation special vehicles; and passenger cars are connected, accounting for 12, accounting for 0.15%.

From the perspective of fuel cell vehicle demonstration applications, my country currently has five major demonstration city clusters, namely Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hebei and Zhengzhou. The five major demonstration city clusters have connected a total of 5,853 fuel cell vehicles, accounting for 71.40% of the national fuel cell vehicle access. Among them, the Guangdong city cluster has the largest number of fuel cell vehicles connected, reaching 2,604.

VI. Czujnik temperatury
1. Application in temperature sensor products
It is explosive and volatile in itself. The main sources of danger faced by the on-board hydrogen system of fuel cell vehicles are fire and explosion. Therefore, people have raised questions about the safety of the on-board hydrogen system of automobiles. In order to coordinate the safety technical requirements of various countries and make the public more recognized of hydrogen fuel cells, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has established a special working group and drafted the global technical regulations GTR3 “Global Technical Regulations for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles”. The safety of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is clearly stipulated in this technical regulation.

Hydrogen resources are very good, clean and renewable. Take hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as an example. Foreign technology is quite mature. It is a new energy vehicle driven by an electric motor and powered by electricity generated by hydrogen fuel through electrochemical reactions.

Since only water is generated after the chemical reaction, the emission is close to zero. Compared with lithium battery new energy vehicles, consumers do not have endurance anxiety problems and do not need to change their usage habits. The hydrogenation process only takes 5 minutes, and there is no pollution problem caused by the scrapping of large-capacity batteries after long-term use, so it is called a clean energy vehicle.

However, hydrogen fuel cells are prone to leakage and have a very wide explosion range. It is currently the gas with the widest wave range. As long as it is mixed with air and reaches a ratio of 4% to 75%, it will explode and belong to the first-level explosion gas. Therefore, from hydrogen production stations, hydrogen storage stations, transport vehicles, hydrogen refueling stations, to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen needs to be tested, leaks are discovered as early as possible, valves are immediately turned off and alarms are sounded to reduce safety hazards.

In addition, for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen sensors can not only be used to monitor hydrogen leaks at the gas tank and stack end, but also to detect the concentration of hydrogen in exhaust gas. Fuel cell vehicles can also analyze the performance and reaction degree of the stack in real time based on these monitoring information, so as to adjust relevant input indicators or data configurations in time to achieve safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.

Therefore, hydrogen fuel cell vehicle sensors are of great value. There are mainly gas leakage sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, temperature, humidity and pressure integrated sensors, air flow sensors, itp.

For example, hydrogen sensors include sensitive probes, circuit boards, external shells and related structural components; the interface between the sensor and the outside is mainly a communication interface, and these subsystems are organically combined to form a hydrogen sensor component. The primary function of installing hydrogen sensors is to ensure the safe operation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. As we all know, hydrogen is a flammable and explosive gas. For hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen sensors can detect when the hydrogen concentration exceeds the safe range and input an alarm signal to the vehicle in time. The vehicle system will immediately take corresponding power-off safety protection measures to prevent safety accidents.

Hydrogen sensors can not only be used to monitor hydrogen leakage at the gas tank and the stack end, but also to detect the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust gas. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can also analyze the performance and reaction degree of the stack in real time based on these monitoring information, so as to adjust the relevant input indicators or data configuration in time to achieve safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.

For example, hydrogen temperature sensors are mainly used for hydrogen pressure detection. It uses a 316L stainless steel shell, which can resist hydrogen embrittlement and penetration very well, and its reliability, accuracy and durability are very high, which can effectively meet the temperature measurement work of fuel cells and other hydrogen energy sources on the market. In addition, the static working pressure of the new hydrogen temperature sensor can reach 160bar (much higher than the general pressure requirement), and the measurement range is -40℃ to +100°C.

Mr. Zeng, a hydrogen temperature sensor manufacturer, told the researcher: “The national standard has requirements for hydrogen safety of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The number of hydrogen sensors required for a vehicle should be considered in combination with space layout, ventilation, safety, itp. Generally speaking, at least one is required for the engine, hydrogen storage tank, cockpit (inside the car), and the tailpipe will also need one.”

“It is worth mentioning that hydrogen sensors are divided into many specifications and the ranges are also different. Different fuel cell models and different positions of the same model have different requirements for hydrogen sensors. If high temperature and humidity resistance and high precision are required, the price will be more expensive. Based on Considering both vehicle needs and cost reduction, users generally choose hydrogen sensor solutions in a comprehensive manner. ”

“From a technical perspective, automotive hydrogen sensors are different from consumer sensors. They have very complex operating conditions and need to experience more severe high and low temperatures along with the vehicle. They also need to resist external forces (such as vibration, impact, etc.). The development of automotive hydrogen sensor products needs to meet the basic requirements and processes of automotive product development, starting from system requirements description and analysis, and gradually iterating to design, analysis, verification, and vehicle testing to ensure the comprehensiveness, reliability, and safety of the product. ”

2. Application of temperature sensor sales channels and human resources
“The channel sales personnel in the midstream battery stack industry and the channel sales sales personnel for hydrogen energy vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell temperature sensors have overlapping channels and overlapping customer resources. The sales personnel can achieve seamless connection by switching jobs in these two industries.”

“Our temperature sensor company recruits for the sales needs of the hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen energy vehicle industries, and can also accurately search for channel sales talents in these industries.”

The sales team of the temperature sensor company analyzed that the business cycle of the first wave of hydrogen energy vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells is opening, so it is not difficult to decide that the “hydrogen energy vehicle/hydrogen fuel cell industry sales team” can be prepared and established. By sorting out the customer lists and regional distribution of hydrogen energy vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers, the regional layout and construction cost of this “hydrogen energy vehicle/hydrogen fuel cell industry sales team” are clear.

3. Application in the marketing and promotion of temperature sensors
There are already vertical offline activities to promote hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen energy vehicle temperature sensors. Organizations include the International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association and the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance, and activities include the World Hydrogen Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition, itp.

The main way to promote hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen energy vehicle temperature sensors online is content marketing. Building PC networks, WeChat accounts and conducting content operations that can solve user needs is the basic skill, and building a content marketing ecosystem covering Baidu, Zhihu, Xiaohongshu, itp. for search engines is the big market.

4. Application in investment and financing of temperature sensors
From the perspective of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain, the biggest beneficiaries of capital are the core components of hydrogen fuel cells such as midstream battery systems, stacks, and membrane electrodes (MEA). For example, you can consider making early arrangements for temperature sensors for hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen energy vehicle supply chain companies and temperature sensors are suitable for mutual investment and serving common customers together.