In-situ development tool for PTX components

Challenge

For the green transition to succeed, it is essential to optimize PTX components and thereby reduce costs, which requires a better understanding of the dynamics, including hydrogen and oxygen flow conditions inside PTX components. Currently, the processes are a "black box" and based on assumptions and trial-and-error experiments. To optimize the components, process modeling and digital twins would be exceptionally powerful tools, but there is a lack of methods to validate these digital tools by actually measuring the movement of hydrogen within the component—ideally in situ in real industrial components.

Solution

Neutron radiography enables the capture of images where metal components appear as faint shadows, while hydrogen-containing liquids and gases inside the components stand out clearly. This allows for the capture of 3D images and 2D films of processes inside PTX components in great detail. The tool has primarily been used in academic research at large research facilities, and there is significant untapped potential in making these techniques available to the industry. The goal of the project is to develop the technique into a reliable tool that is easily accessible to the industry and does not require companies to have highly specialized knowledge of neutron physics.

The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Impact

The pilot measurement will demonstrate how product development of PTX components can be elevated to a higher level of innovation by making the knowledge of in-situ measurements of components in operation available to product development in PTX companies. It will be possible for all companies to access these measurements either through services or new project collaborations. This will reduce time-to-market and provide Danish companies with a completely new opportunity to design optimized products. As a result of the project, it is planned to establish larger research and development collaborations where the new tools are directly applied in industrial product development. The integration with simulations and digital twins will create a powerful tool to optimize and document the path of new products to the international market.