The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) has been active in teaming with academic and industrial partners to advance hydrogen technology. The SRNL hydrogen technical staff consists of over 90 scientists and technologists devoted to researching, developing, and demonstrating all aspects of hydrogen technology including production, storage, sensors, and effects on materials. The primary focus of SRNL's R&D has been hydrogen storage using metal hydrides. In addition to the extensive work with conventional metal hydrides, SRNL is at the forefront of research into lightweight complex hydrides. SRNL has done extensive technology R&D and demonstration projects for hydrogen technologies, including sol-gel MH and membrane filters for H2 separation, advanced hydrogen storage materials, doped carbon nanotubes, storage vessel design and optimization, chemical hydrides, metal hydride compressors and separators, and hydrogen production using nuclear energy.

Aiken County built and operates the new Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR). This new Center, a 60,000 square foot facility, is dedicated to hydrogen research and development. Construction was completed during December 2005; the facility was dedicated in February 2006. SRNL and its regional partners occupy this facility under a lease agreement. One-half of the laboratory, known as the Hydrogen Technology Research Laboratory (HTRL), is occupied by the SRNL hydrogen group to continue its ongoing efforts in hydrogen storage, separation, sensors and production technology development. The other half of the facility is available as a user-facility to encourage collaborative efforts between SRNL and other scientists from industry, academia and other government agencies. This poster presentation will highlight ongoing R&D, as well as results of several SRNL demonstration projects, including:

Hydrogen Storage The SRNL Hydrogen Technology Laboratory has over 50 years working with the handling and storage of hydrogen for its defense mission. The SRNL engineers and scientists have been active in research and development activities for various hydrogen storage materials such as metal hydrides. SRNL is also working with complex hydride materials including alanates, borohydrides and carbon nanotube materials for lightweight applications to meet advanced hydrogen storage demands.

Hydrogen Production and Delivery SRNL led a team comprised of General Atomics, the University of South Carolina, Entergy Nuclear, Inc., Argonne National Laboratory and an Independent Consultant to perform a study of hydrogen production using nuclear energy for the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI). During this project titled “Centralized Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Power: Infrastructure Analysis and Test Design Study”, the team analyzed the key aspects of nuclear hydrogen production, with particular emphasis on the hydrogen infrastructure issues.

Hydrogen Technology Demonstrations

H2Fuel Bus, This project demonstrated the world's first hybrid hydrogen electric transit bus. It achieved double the range of the all electric vehicle and more than twice the energy efficiency of a diesel bus. The hydrogen IC engine had virtually zero emissions.

Industrial Fuel Cell Vehicle, Two fuel cell vehicles (John Deere GATOR'S) running on direct hydrogen stored in a metal hydride system were developed and demonstrated. The objective was to offer the small industrial vehicle sector an alternative to limited-range, battery-electric vehicles.