University of Central Florida researchers are developing materials for stopping hydrogen leaks, like the ones that have halted the launch of Artemis 1.<\/p>\n
Their work just received a significant boost with a recently announced nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.<\/p>\n
The award will fund the design, synthesis, manufacturing, testing and modeling of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in a hydrogen-combustion facility located at UCF.<\/p>\n
The work will have applications in hydrogen-based turbines for electricity production, hydrogen-powered space travel and storage, and transportation of hydrogen.<\/p>\n
Hydrogen\u2019s tiny molecular size means it escapes containment easily and can get into defects such as voids, cracks and crevices causing materials to become brittle. This could become a massive problem since hydrogen is also extremely reactive and explosive.<\/p>\n
The UCF researchers and co-investigator Qingda Yang, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor with the University of Miami, will work to develop high-temperature CMCs and nano-ceramic coatings that can contain hydrogen and be used to construct an inner wall of the combustion chamber for combusting it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn ultra-high temperature combustion chamber is our dream project,\u201d says project principal investigator,\u201d Jan Gou, a professor in UCF\u2019s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. \u201cIt has been long-desired for next-generation gas turbine engines, aircraft engines and rocket engines.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Department of Energy noted in their award announcement that this is a novel material technology for hydrogen gas turbines,\u201d Gou says. \u201cThe niche of our project is to materialize ceramic composites that are capable of handling higher temperatures, hydrogen embrittlement, rich water vapor content and oxidation in the combustion chamber and to stop hydrogen leaks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The UCF-developed material is a high temperature-resistant and lightweight textile ceramic matrix composite. The nano-ceramic coating is assembled at the molecular-level and can withstand temperatures above 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt a rock. It also has an anisotropic thermal conductivity and exceptional resistance to corrosion and oxidation. The process is scalable to attain 3-4 level of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL).<\/p>\n
The material will be tested in a high-pressure combustion environment at UCF\u2019s Center for Advanced Turbine and Energy Center, a, full-featured research and student training facility.<\/p>\n
Kareem Ahmed, an associate professor in UCF\u2019s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will be leading the hydrogen combustion testing. The performance of the material will be assessed at relevant temperatures as well as hydrogen and water conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cHydrogen is critical for clean energy production where the emissions are water,\u201d Ahmed says.<\/p>\n
The researchers will also develop a high-fidelity analysis platform that can model and evaluate the thermo-mechanical performance of the materials, including induced degradation from chemical reactions and physical changes to its configuration.<\/p>\n
Yang, with the University of Miami, will oversee the modeling work.<\/p>\n
The researchers will start the two-year project in December.<\/p>\n