Hydrogen system R&D

R&D programme – general points

•Hydrogen absorber system incorporates 2 novel aspects

•Hydrogen storage using a hydride bed

•Hydrogen absorber with cooling from a cryocooler

•R&D programme is an important element to reduce both technical and financial risk and to develop the safety case

•Aim is to develop an integrated programme for the absorber and hydrogen system involving international groups within the MICE collaboration – two strings

•Hydrogen system R&D - to be done at RAL – located in the MICE Hall – essential to development of expertise and safety approval

•Absorber R&D – to be done within the Collaboration

•Aim for the two elements finally to be brought together at RAL

Hydrogen System Baseline layout

Pressuregauge

Non-returnvalve

-P P VP Vacuum pumpBursting diskPressure

relief valveValvePressure

CoolantOut In

Metal Hydride storage unit

(20m3 capacity)

Purge valve

0.5 bar

0.9 bar

H2 Detector

P

P

VP1

VP2

Purge valve

Chiller/Heater Unit

1 bar

PP

0.5 bar

0.9 bar Helium supply

Hydrogen supply

High level vent

Buffer vessel

Vent outsideflame arrester

Extract hoodH2Detector

PP

Nitrogen supply

PP

PP

1 m3

Hydrogen zone 2

Vent manifold Vent manifold

P1

PV1

PV7

PV8

PV2

PV3

PV4

HV1

Fill valve

Tbed

HV2

HV3

P3

P

P2

PV6

High level vent

Non returnvalve

0.1 bar

-P P VP Vacuum pumpBursting diskPressure

relief valveValvePressure

regulator

CoolantOut In

Absorber window

Metal Hydride storage unit

(20m3 capacity)

Purge valve

0.5 bar

0.9 bar

H2 DetectorH2 Detector

P

P

VP1

VP2

Purge valve

Chiller/Heater Unit

1 bar

PP

0.5 bar

0.9 bar Helium supply

Hydrogen supply

High level vent

Buffer vessel

Vent outsideflame arrester

Extract hoodH2DetectorH2Detector

PP

Nitrogen supply

PP

PP

1 m3

Hydrogen zone 2

Vent manifold Vent manifold

P1

PV1

PV7

PV8

PV2

PV3

PV4

HV1

Fill valve

Tbed

HV2

HV3

P3

P

P2

PV6

High level vent

Non returnvalve

0.1 bar

Safety window

Hydrogen System Development – Scope (1)

•To construct a prototype hydrogen handling system at RAL which will become the first full system of MICE

•This will consist of 2 main parts

•The external system – which will be in the final form

•to deliver H2 to the absorber and store the H2 in the hydride beds

•The safety system to vent H2 in failure modes- to include relief valves and buffer volume

•The dummy absorber

•The absorber will be simulated by a simple cryostat with a containment vessel to contain 20litres H2 – operated from a condensing pot with a cryocooler

Hydrogen System Development – Scope (2)

The development programme will address the following issues:

•Confirm the working parameters of a hydride bed in the regimes of storage, absorption and desorption of hydrogen ?

•Purity of hydrogen and effects of impurities.

•Hydride bed heating/ cooling power requirements.

•Instrumentation and control required for the operation of the system

•Safety aspects including - safety relief valves, sensors and interlocks and safety documentation

•The R&D programme will enable the final design for the MICE hydrogen system to be confirmed and the HAZOP to be completed.

Hydrogen System R&D WP(1)

Initial Design

•H2 handling system

•Confirmation of

•components on H2 circuit diagram

•pipe sizes, mass flows, pressure drops, relief valve specifications, venting, manifolding

•Vacuum and purging systems

•layouts in hall

•H2 zones

•Basic specifications for purchased items

Hydrogen System R&D WP(1)

Initial Design

•Dummy absorber

•Cryostat design

•H2 containment vessel, condensing pot, internal pipework components

•Pre - cooling – heat exchanger etc

•Heater for load simulation and H2 boil off

•Instrumentation

•Data acquisition

•Outline definition of test programme and proposals for fault condition simulation

Hydrogen System R&D WP(1)

Conclusion of WP(1)

•Update cost estimates for main components

•Internal Engineering and Safety Review

•Aim will be confirm the scope of the R&D programme and release the stage of WP2 – detailed design and procurement

Hydrogen System R&D WP(2)

Detailed design- Procurement – Installation

•Detailed design of manufactured components – cryostat + dummy absorber, buffer volume

•Specification of commercial items – hydride beds, relief valves, vacuum systems

•Definition of installation procedure and specification of infrastructure such as manifolds for installation

•Procurement of components

•Preparation of operation and test procedures

•Preparation of safety case

Hydrogen System R&D WP(2)

Conclusion of WP(2)

•Update of Engineering and Safety Review

•Aim to include additional aspects based on

•More detailed procedures for operation and test

•HAZOP

Hydrogen System R&D WP(3)

Installation and commissioning

•Installation of system components

•Subsystem test and commissioning

•Proof of gas handling with He

•Leak testing

•Check instrumentation and overpressure valve operation

•Check precooling and cryocooler operation

•Review and permission to operate with H2

Hydrogen System R&D WP(4)

Test Programme

•Purging sequence

•H2 transfer into hydride bed

•Local operation of hydride bed

•Initial transfer of H2 into dummy absorber

•Dummy absorber cooldown, fill and warmup

•H2 filling /emptying

•H2 return to hydride bed

•System control

•Fault scenarios

•Vacuum failure test of venting

Hydrogen System R&D Schedule

Outline Schedule

•WP1 Initial design Jan – May 05

•WP2 Detailed design and procurement June – Dec 05

•WP3 Installation and commissioning Jan – April 06

•WP4 Test Programme June – Oct 06

Absorber R&D

Absorber R&D - scope

•Scope

•Modelling and operation of a dummy absorber from a cryocooler system

•Simulation of final system thermal and operational conditions

•Proof of principle for absorber supports and shielding

•Specific demonstration of operation at helium temperatures with liquid helium using a cryocooler – establish margins

• The aim will be to undertake this programme using the resources of the International Collaboration – the specific UK role in this is still to be defined – funds identified to ensure the programme is viable

Absorber R&D

MICE Absorber R&D module concept