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Teesing demonstrates 700 bar hydrogen refueling technique
NEWS and FCEVs, as well as modular, transportable hydrogen refueling stations. Last autumn Linde completed the first retail hydrogen fueling station it will operate in the US, installed at the Ramos Oil Company multi-fuel facility in West Sacramento, California, which retails a range of conventional and specialist fuels [FCB, November 2014, p9]. The station features the Linde IC 90 ionic compressor, which enables higher throughput and enhanced back-to-back fueling [see the Linde feature in FCB, September 2014]. Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Lake Forest, California, USA. Tel: +1 949 930 3400, www.qtww.com Linde US Industrial Gases, Hydrogen Fueling Technologies: http://tinyurl.com/linde-us-h2fueling
Teesing demonstrates 700 bar hydrogen refueling technique
T
he Dutch company Teesing has developed a sustainable 700 bar (10 000 psi) refueling technique for hydrogen vehicles, which the company demonstrated in the recently completed PusH project by filling cylinders quickly and efficiently with hydrogen. Various companies in the Netherlands want to facilitate the rollout of hydrogen powered vehicles, and are working hard on the development of fuel cells and the production, storage, and distribution of hydrogen. Teesing has spent several years optimising the critical processes to ensure that such vehicles will be practical and sustainable in the future. Hydrogen has only one-third of the energy content of natural gas, which means that the same volume contains less energy. Refueling with hydrogen at a higher pressure (e.g. 700 bar) supplies enough energy to give a hydrogen vehicle a respectable range. The widely accepted target for end-user acceptance is that a vehicle’s hydrogen tank will have to be filled at 700 bar within 3 min. However, the crux of the problem with rapidly filling cylinders with hydrogen is that the gas expands when it becomes hot. Currently the solution for this problem is to pre-cool the hydrogen, but this inefficient method results in unnecessary energy losses. Teesing has developed a system which counteracts this expansion. The cylinder is first filled with water at a pressure of 700 bar, which is then displaced by introducing hydrogen gas into the cylinder at 700 bar. The prototypes have been successfully tested, and a patent has already been issued for the PusH principle.
8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
This method has the additional advantage that no extra action is required to moisten the hydrogen: fuel cells function more efficiently if the hydrogen has been humidified. The now completed PusH project also involved Itensify BV in the Netherlands, which focused on high-pressure and flow control systems; WEH GmbH in Germany, for hydrogen refueling components; and Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Teesing wants to follow up the commercial feasibility of this system, and is considering – and looking for funding for – a demonstration project in which Tongji University can continue its involvement. Teesing BV, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 70 413 0700, www.teesing.nl/en Itensify BV, The Netherlands: www.itensify.eu WEH GmbH, Germany: www.weh.com/refuelling-systems-hydrogen.html
H2USA develops new tools to push hydrogen infrastructure forward
T
he US Department of Energy recently announced new tools developed in support of the H2USA public-private partnership, focused on hydrogen fueling infrastructure analysis and cost-effective development. The new analysis tools were developed to help address technical and financial barriers to hydrogen fueling infrastructure deployment: • The Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model (HRSAM) will help to assess the impact of station design on station economics. The model, developed by Argonne National Laboratory, optimises station component size to meet demand while minimising cost. It estimates capital and operating cost based on design variables such as station capacity and hydrogen delivery mode. • The Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool (H2FAST) provides in-depth financial analysis, including cashflow and return-oninvestment for hydrogen fueling stations based on financial inputs such as station capital cost, operating cost, and financing mechanisms. This tool was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. DOE, along with automakers and other stakeholders, founded H2USA two years ago to address the key challenges of hydrogen infrastructure [FCB, May 2013, p7]. Its mission is to promote the introduction and widespread adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles across the US. A year later, DOE launched the Hydrogen
Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology project (H2FIRST), to leverage capabilities at the national laboratories to address the technology challenges related to hydrogen refueling stations [FCB, May 2014, p7]. H2USA – jointly led by Sandia National Laboratories and NREL – is a prime example of DOE’s efforts to bring national lab capabilities and facilities together to address immediate and mid-term challenges faced by the industry. Two H2FIRST project task reports have been published: • The Reference Station Design report details engineering models and economic analyses of five hydrogen refueling station templates that can meet near-term market needs. The authors evaluated station economics using HRSAM, and prepared detailed designs which include piping, instrumentation, and bills of materials. These references are meant to help stakeholders evaluate station configurations, and to encourage standardisation of station components. • The Hydrogen Contaminant Detector report describes the current commercial state-of-theart technologies in contamination detection. It also identifies primary requirements for implementing a hydrogen detection device at a station, and provides a gap analysis. H2USA: www.h2usa.org Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model: www.hydrogen.energy.gov/h2a_delivery.html Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool: www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/h2fast H2FIRST: http://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2first Reference Station Design report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64107.pdf Hydrogen Contaminant Detection report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64063.pdf DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office: www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells
energy storage
ITM Power sells 500 kW electrolyser for tidal energy storage
I
n the UK, ITM Power has won a contract to supply an integrated hydrogen system for use at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal test site on Eday, Orkney in Scotland. The system’s principal component is a 0.5 MW polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser with integrated compression and up to
May 2015
Teesing demonstrates 700 bar hydrogen refueling technique
T
he Dutch company Teesing has developed a sustainable 700 bar (10 000 psi) refueling technique for hydrogen vehicles, which the company demonstrated in the recently completed PusH project by filling cylinders quickly and efficiently with hydrogen. Various companies in the Netherlands want to facilitate the rollout of hydrogen powered vehicles, and are working hard on the development of fuel cells and the production, storage, and distribution of hydrogen. Teesing has spent several years optimising the critical processes to ensure that such vehicles will be practical and sustainable in the future. Hydrogen has only one-third of the energy content of natural gas, which means that the same volume contains less energy. Refueling with hydrogen at a higher pressure (e.g. 700 bar) supplies enough energy to give a hydrogen vehicle a respectable range. The widely accepted target for end-user acceptance is that a vehicle’s hydrogen tank will have to be filled at 700 bar within 3 min. However, the crux of the problem with rapidly filling cylinders with hydrogen is that the gas expands when it becomes hot. Currently the solution for this problem is to pre-cool the hydrogen, but this inefficient method results in unnecessary energy losses. Teesing has developed a system which counteracts this expansion. The cylinder is first filled with water at a pressure of 700 bar, which is then displaced by introducing hydrogen gas into the cylinder at 700 bar. The prototypes have been successfully tested, and a patent has already been issued for the PusH principle.
8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
This method has the additional advantage that no extra action is required to moisten the hydrogen: fuel cells function more efficiently if the hydrogen has been humidified. The now completed PusH project also involved Itensify BV in the Netherlands, which focused on high-pressure and flow control systems; WEH GmbH in Germany, for hydrogen refueling components; and Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Teesing wants to follow up the commercial feasibility of this system, and is considering – and looking for funding for – a demonstration project in which Tongji University can continue its involvement. Teesing BV, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 70 413 0700, www.teesing.nl/en Itensify BV, The Netherlands: www.itensify.eu WEH GmbH, Germany: www.weh.com/refuelling-systems-hydrogen.html
H2USA develops new tools to push hydrogen infrastructure forward
T
he US Department of Energy recently announced new tools developed in support of the H2USA public-private partnership, focused on hydrogen fueling infrastructure analysis and cost-effective development. The new analysis tools were developed to help address technical and financial barriers to hydrogen fueling infrastructure deployment: • The Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model (HRSAM) will help to assess the impact of station design on station economics. The model, developed by Argonne National Laboratory, optimises station component size to meet demand while minimising cost. It estimates capital and operating cost based on design variables such as station capacity and hydrogen delivery mode. • The Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool (H2FAST) provides in-depth financial analysis, including cashflow and return-oninvestment for hydrogen fueling stations based on financial inputs such as station capital cost, operating cost, and financing mechanisms. This tool was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. DOE, along with automakers and other stakeholders, founded H2USA two years ago to address the key challenges of hydrogen infrastructure [FCB, May 2013, p7]. Its mission is to promote the introduction and widespread adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles across the US. A year later, DOE launched the Hydrogen
Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology project (H2FIRST), to leverage capabilities at the national laboratories to address the technology challenges related to hydrogen refueling stations [FCB, May 2014, p7]. H2USA – jointly led by Sandia National Laboratories and NREL – is a prime example of DOE’s efforts to bring national lab capabilities and facilities together to address immediate and mid-term challenges faced by the industry. Two H2FIRST project task reports have been published: • The Reference Station Design report details engineering models and economic analyses of five hydrogen refueling station templates that can meet near-term market needs. The authors evaluated station economics using HRSAM, and prepared detailed designs which include piping, instrumentation, and bills of materials. These references are meant to help stakeholders evaluate station configurations, and to encourage standardisation of station components. • The Hydrogen Contaminant Detector report describes the current commercial state-of-theart technologies in contamination detection. It also identifies primary requirements for implementing a hydrogen detection device at a station, and provides a gap analysis. H2USA: www.h2usa.org Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model: www.hydrogen.energy.gov/h2a_delivery.html Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool: www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/h2fast H2FIRST: http://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2first Reference Station Design report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64107.pdf Hydrogen Contaminant Detection report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64063.pdf DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office: www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells
energy storage
ITM Power sells 500 kW electrolyser for tidal energy storage
I
n the UK, ITM Power has won a contract to supply an integrated hydrogen system for use at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal test site on Eday, Orkney in Scotland. The system’s principal component is a 0.5 MW polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser with integrated compression and up to
May 2015