SS-2024020935_Gas Phased Hydrogen Reccombiner.pdf

Sources Sought Notice No. SS-2024020935

“Gas Phase Hydrogen Recombiner for 25 kW Electrolyzer System”

June 7, 2024

BACKGROUND:

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE). NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance), the “M&O Contractor”.

The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) owns and operates hydrogen production systems that normally vent hydrogen gas that can ignite at the vent stack. While the vent stacks are rated to withstand flaring events – it’s not ideal to have hydrogen gas ignite and flare. Therefore, the ESIF has a goal to reduce or eliminate continuous venting of hydrogen and other flammable gases to reduce the chance of flaring.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this Sources Sought is to identify potential subcontracting companies that are qualified and capable of meeting the project objectives. The project objective, at a high level, is to provide a Gas Phase Hydrogen Recombiner for 25 kW Electrolyzer System.

PROJECT DETAILS:

In the event a solicitation is released, NREL is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that meets or exceeds the following minimum capabilities:

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES & SPECIFICATIONS

The project scope is to design, fabricate and assemble a gas phase recombiner (GPR) to remove hydrogen from the vent stream of a 25 kW electrolyzer. The recombiner has been sized based on a maximum hydrogen production rate of 0.5 kg/h, assuming all the hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer will be released to atmosphere through the vent.

Dilution of the hydrogen is required to flow a maximum of 4 vol.% hydrogen (in air) to the GPR. Thus, the GPR has been sized for a flowrate of 150 m3/h of hydrogen-in-air, at 40°C, atmospheric pressure, with a conversion of approximately 99%.

Conversion Efficiency (%) = (Inlet H2 Concentration – Outlet H2 Concentration) Inlet H2 Concentration

The project deliverable is to provide a GPR to remove the hydrogen in the vent air stream after it is produced from a 25 kW electrolyzer (up to 0.5 kg/h). The GPR will be provided with a safety data sheet and certificate of conformance.

TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

• Materials of construction should be compatible with hydrogen service. (e.g., 316/L stainless steel.

• No pressure rating is required as ambient air will be mixed with ambient pressure hydrogen from the electrolyzer.

• No power or electrical service is required as the GPR is a passive device that uses catalyst to electrochemically convert/recombine hydrogen with oxygen in the air to produce water and heat.

• Surface temperature of the GPR should not exceed 55°C, but NREL will confirm steady-state operating temperature at the surface and protect or insulate the GPR, if needed.

• Freeze protection will be considered if the GPR is mounted outside, but existing plans have the device mounted in an electrically classified (Class I, Division 2) environment.

• NREL will provide sufficient air to dilute the hydrogen concentration entering the GPR to 4 vol.% (maximum).

• The GPR sizing should be based from a 4 vol.% hydrogen feed concentration.

SPACE REQUIREMENTS/ LIMITATIONS

• No new space is needed for the GPR as the expected dimensions are roughly < 6” diameter, by 3 feet long and weigh less than 100 lbs.

Small-Business Requirements: Sufficient, qualified responses to this SSN will determine if a total small business set aside is appropriate for a resultant RFP. The NAICS code applicable to this SSN is 334519.

The following links are being provided for convenience:

• https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards

• https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Anticipated Lead/Delivery Time: The Alliance program anticipates the lead/delivery time to be 10- 12 weeks ARO.

Submission Requirements:

For companies interested in competing for the “Gas Phase Hydrogen Recombiner for 25 kW Electrolyzer System” RFP, please submit the following to Paul Wilke at ASP.Responses@nrel.gov with this subject line: “SS-2024020935, “your company name”” on or before 4:00 p.m. (MST), 6/21/2024. Your submission response is limited to 5 pages:

https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/size-standards mailto:ASP.Responses@nrel.gov

1. Company Name, Address, and Company URL (include bona-fide location as stated above).

2. Point of Contact Information (Email, Direct Phone Number).

3. Company’s Capability Statement that provides a narrative of the Offeror’s expertise with projects of similar scope, size, and complexity.

4. Respondents must address the “Project Details” as stated above to be considered in a potential resultant RFP.

5. Rough Order of Magnitude Estimate (ROM Estimate)

6. Estimated Lead Times

Disclaimer: Responding to this request identifies your company as an interested candidate only.

Your submittal is not in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP). This is an SSN, not a Request for Proposal. Verbal replies will not be accepted. All inquiries must be in writing via email. Project related questions will not be entertained at this point in the procurement process. This document represents a market research effort. Any costs associated with the development of a response to this request will not be reimbursed by NREL and submission does not guarantee or otherwise promise inclusion in any forthcoming RFP. In the event a solicitation results from this SSN, NREL reserves the right to set aside in total or in part any resultant award. No award will be made to any subcontractor/vendor that is not registered or in the process of registering with the System for Award Management (SAM). Please visit the SAM website at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration for instructions on how to register.

If a solicitation is conducted and an award is resulting, a SAM registration is required to be active at time of award.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration