Hydrogen Fuelling Network Storage Will Contain FCV Pressure

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). If, two months ago, you were not sure exactly which were the winning bets in the hydrogen energy development projects stakes (and had not read the relevant IIR news items) now you must know that the hybrid technologies using hydrogen powered cells with highly efficient kick-in power source exchange is where the money is. The plethora of announcements by major global companies indicates that breakthroughs in scale and power can be expected on a continuing basis over the next decade. This impetus will also draw along with it the increased use of pure hydrogen fuel cell applications where they are most appropriate.

When the office size fax machine entered the market, nearly thirty years ago, visitors to the head office would marvel at the convenience and transmitting power of these machines, no more rowdy teletypes in the office. Some enthusiastic visitors were known to have sent messages to their home office immediately and were disappointed and disgruntled when told they needed a mirror transmitter/receiver at the other end. Within ten years the local and global network of fax machines was established. Technology is marvelous but not magical.

Major projects are underway to provide networks of hydrogen fuelling stations and facilities so that the users of the new power technology will not be dissed (appointed and gruntled) in their anticipation, as was the case with the lone fax sender.

Dynetek Industries (TSX:DNK) (Calgary, Alberta - Ratingen, Germany) has been pushing the envelope with the development of lightweight, cost efficient and safe high-pressure storage media, which will form an essential part of the hydrogen networks. Towards the end of 2002, the company completed tests with what is claimed to be the world's first 12,500 psi (825 bar) storage cylinder. The design features a cylinder with an aluminum liner wrapped with carbon fiber soaked with epoxide resin, which provides stability for the fiber wrap. The cylinder was developed for H2 storage for fuelling stations that are capable of fast filling FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles - relax chaps and chaps' wives and young basketball players, an FCV can also be an SUV or a 4x4 but remember 'hybrid' will mean kudos at the mall.)

Vehicles will have onboard storage of compressed H2 at 10,000 psi (700 bar). Dynetek claims that this is a significant achievement and milestone in the advancement of hydrogen storage for stationary applications.

The validation test was performed by an independent testing agency from British Columbia and is said to comply with ISO, NGV2 and EIHP standards. In the process of the tests the cylinder was pressurized to 30,920 psi (2310 bar), which greatly exceeded the requirements for a cylinder with a12,500 psi service pressure rating. This safety margin overkill reassuringly allays any of the fears of exploding containers that were current when the applied hydrogen technology was first mooted a few years ago.

Dynetek is supplying a 10,000 psi storage system for Ford's new hybrid Model U that integrates renewable, recyclable materials in its construction and is very low in emissions. The Model U combines a hydrogen powered, supercharged, intercooled 2.3 liter four cylinder internal combustion engine (ICE) and a hybrid electric transmission. Ford estimates that in addition to super clean emissions the fuel economy will be around 45 miles per gallon.