Laboratory of Energy Conversion and Storage (LabX)

The Laboratory of Energy Conversion and Storage (LabX) is a complete infrastructure for testing a wide variety of energy conversion systems, including hydrogen generation units (low and high temperature electrolyzers, fuel processors, etc.), cogeneration and trigeneration units fueled by natural gas, hydrogen, synthetic gas or any mixtures of the previous (e.g., internal combustion engines, fuel cells, etc.), power-to-power systems, and electrical / thermal energy storage systems, as well as heat pumps, absorption chillers and boilers.

LabX leverages over 15 years of experience in the previous Laboratory of Micro-Cogeneration and focuses on experimenting and characterising the units in terms of energy and environmental performances, allowing also to improve physical components and control logics. Tests are executed according to internal procedures as well as to available standards.

Cogeneration
Combined heat and power generation, up to 100 kWe and 200 kWth (max 150°C)
Tri-generation
Integrated or separated systems (CHP + absorption chillers and/or heat pumps)
Hydrogen
Production via fuel processors from variable feeds (up to 300 kWth input) and via electrolysis (up to 50 kWe input)
Chillers
Absorption/adsorption chillers up to 100 kWth input at max 150°C and compression chillers up to 100 kWe input
Heat pumps
Compression and absorption heat pumps, including engine driven, up to 200 kW thermal power output
Boilers
Hot water generation up to 200 kWth output at max 150°C

Combined heat and power

Internal combustion: reciprocating engines, micro-turbines
Fuel cells (PEMFC, SOFC)

Hydrogen production

Low-temperature electrolyzers (alkaline, PEM)
High-temperature electrolyzers (SOEC)
Fuel processors (reformers)

Features

Measurements
High-precision instrumentation to analyse energy and mass balances and compositions
Gas mixtures
Operation with multiple gases, fed in pure form or as mixtures
Storage systems
Electrical and thermal storage, and hydrogen storage
Tests
Steady-state operation or variable cycles
Grid integration
Grid-connected or stand-alone operation, also exploiting a grid simulator to emulate perturbations

«The time is right to tap into hydrogen’s potential to play a key role in a clean, secure and affordable energy future.»

[IEA, The Future of Hydrogen, 2020]

Prof. Gianluca Valenti

Chief of Operations at LabX

gianluca.valenti@polimi.it

Prof. Stefano Campanari

Chief Scientific Advisor at LabX

stefano.campanari@polimi.it

LabX Gallery