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Hydrogen as an alternative energy to petrolium

15.03.2004

The key aspect of the project is the obtaining of metal hydrides with the capacity to "store" the hydrogen used in automotive vehicle fuel batteries.

Under the auspices of the Strategic Plan for Materials and Energy being carried out by INASMET, the Armenian Institute of Chemistry & Physics of the National Academy of Sciences has signed a joint working agreement on order to make progress in one of the future energy sources such as fuel cells based on using hydrogen.

This alternative energy source to fossil fuels (petroleum and its derivatives) has, amongst other advantages, that of being non-contaminant, given that the only by-product is water due to the combustion of hydrogen. Energy user sectors such as automotive one and aeronautic are the most likely beneficiaries of this alternative energy.

On the occasion of the signing of the joint co-operation contract and in order to continue work started in 1999 between both bodies, professor S. Kharatyan, the sub-director of the Armenian Institute, accompanied by researcher, doctor A. Sargyan, have visited Inasmet Technological Centre.

The agreement involves the development of SHS (Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis) technology that has relevant applications in the industrial sector (energy and metallurgy), in obtaining enhanced-specification materials at competitive prices. The technical team at INASMET already has ten years of experience in this speciality and applications widely accepted industrially have been obtained, such as powders for special coatings or high-specification porous materials.

One aspect of the new agreement - more directly related to hydrogen energy - will be the development of new production methods for metal hydrides as raw material for fuel cells, given that they are an efficient form of “storing” hydrogen through SHS technology.

The Armenian Institute of Chemistry & Physics, founded in 1975, is developing new lines of technological research, initiated in Moscow, amongst the advantages of which are those involving simplicity, rapidity and low energy consumption throughout the whole process.

In 1999 the first steps were taken for the joint enterprise between INASMET and the Armenian institution in order to obtain cermets, materials composed of ceramic and metal for applications in extreme operating conditions. The first relevant steps in that two different research teams and professionals from two distinct cultures have come together and, apart from overcoming language barriers, the Armenians in particular have had to go through work permit procedures under very difficult conditions. With the signing of this agreement, many of these difficulties have been overcome and there are very positive expectations for both partners for advancement in these technologies.

Contact :
Cristina Alberdi
INASMET
calberdi@inasmet.es
(+34) 943 003668