Steam Iron Reactor - 2

Introducing the Steam Iron Reactor - 2

Following the success of the ground breaking SIR1 prototype, Team SOLID at Eindhoven University of Technology, in collaboration with RIFT and DEMCON, is developing the Steam Iron Reactor Two (SIR2). This project is an advanced leap in hydrogen storage technology, enabling safe, efficient, and cost-effective storage and transport of hydrogen using an iron-based cycle. 

The Iron-Based Hydrogen Storage System (IRHYS), which the SIR2 utilises, offers a solution for industries that cannot rely solely on electrification or direct hydrogen supply due to infrastructural constraints or high energy demands. The system harnesses the “wet cycle” technology, where iron pellets react with steam to release hydrogen. Unlike traditional methods, this approach provides on-demand hydrogen production in a form that is inherently safer, more sustainable, and transportable.

Key features of SIR-2:

– Higher Efficiency and Capacity: Building on lessons from SIR1, SIR2 integrates a minimum 2.5 MWh storage capacity, providing a scalable solution for high-demand industries.

– Compact and Portable Design: Encased in a 20-foot container, SIR2 can operate as a “hydrogen battery” that is easy to transport, enabling industries to charge the reactor at a location with hydrogen availability and then deploy it wherever hydrogen is needed.

– Complete Iron-Hydrogen Cycle: Unlike its predecessor, SIR2 completes the full hydrogen cycle within one system, handling both reduction and oxidation processes.

– Safety and Sustainability: This design overcomes challenges in conventional hydrogen storage by using iron as a dense, safe energy carrier, sidestepping the risks and losses associated with high-pressure and low-temperature hydrogen storage.

With SIR2, Team SOLID and its partners aim to bring the IRHYS technology to an industrial scale, offering industries in need of decentralised, on-demand hydrogen a viable and sustainable solution. This project will ultimately pave the way for large-scale commercialization, unlocking hydrogen’s potential in areas where green energy options have been limited.