Robo-CircEL
Robot-Assisted Disassembly of Membrane Electrolysis Units
As part of the Robo-CircEL research project, the Chair of Production Systems at Ruhr University Bochum (LPS) is investigating how electrolyzer stacks can be recycled in an environmentally and economically sound manner. The project aims to establish an end-to-end process chain that allows stack components—primarily membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs)—to be reused or recycled at the end of their life cycle. At the heart of the project is a multi-stage classification system: By linking extensive product life cycle data with AI-supported sensor technology, the system is designed to precisely assess the wear and tear of the stacks and their individual components, thereby evaluating their reusability. Based on this, strategies will be developed to enable an economically viable, (partially) automated disassembly of the stacks.
This approach is economically attractive primarily because it allows for the recovery of rare and expensive raw materials such as platinum, iridium, and titanium, which are essential for electrolyzers and fuel cells. If some of these materials are recovered from used stacks, the demand for primary raw materials decreases—this makes Europe less vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and strengthens the hydrogen industry’s raw material security. A key factor in economic viability is the automation of the disassembly process. However, this is technically challenging, as the condition and design variations of the stacks can vary significantly. To address this variability, the project is developing not only a classification system but also intelligent sensor solutions designed to enable a high degree of flexibility and autonomy in the disassembly process.
Aims
- Development of a comprehensive data structure for collecting and providing data relevant to the disassembly and reuse of the electrolyzer stack
- Development of a multi-level classification system for evaluating the reusability and recycling potential of stack components
- Development of disassembly strategies based on the product's condition
Consortium
- Hydrogen Innovation GmbH
- IBG Automation GmbH
- ISW Industrielle Sensorsysteme Wichmann GmbH
- Electrosyn, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
- Lehrstuhl für Produktionssysteme (LPS), Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Funding
The Robo-CircEL project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space as part of the Greentech Innovation Competition under grant number 01MN26020A.
