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Tuesday, May 4, 2010: 4:20 PM
202C (Long Beach Convention Center)
Consideration of the hydrogen infrastructure is an important aspect of fuel cell applications in vehicle fueling and backup power. Hydrogen has the potential of being the ultimate zero emission fuel for vehicles as well as an excellent energy storage medium to harness intermittent renewable energy. Proton Energy Systems’ electrolysis technology is an enabling technology in these applications, providing onsite generation of pure high pressure hydrogen. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis avoids many complications of delivered hydrogen, such as logistics of transporting heavy steel to remote sites and code limitations on stored quantities in urban sites, while providing advantages such as lack of corrosive electrolytes, small footprint, and avoiding the need for pressurized oxygen vs. other onsite options.
Proton has recent and ongoing programs to demonstrate this technology for backup power applications, including a contract with the Army Construction Research Engineering Laboratory (CERL), which will be presented in this talk. The goal of the CERL program is to design an outdoor system consisting of a fuel cell, an electrolyzer, a power control/conditioning module, and a hydrogen storage system, powered by a diesel generator for a “silent camp” application. As part of that effort, a prototype outdoor high pressure electrolyzer is being developed that will generate up to 2 kg per day of hydrogen at 2,400 psi. Activities associated with this development at the cell stack and system level will be discussed.
Proton has also been engaged in activities to extend this high differential pressure capability to 5,000 psi (350 bar) for home fueling market applications. A major challenge associated with transitioning our nation’s transportation economy to any alternative fuel is developing online fuel production, storage, transportation and end-customer delivery infrastructure. A home-based hydrogen fueling station has the potential to be an attractive alternative to bridge the gap to a fully developed fueling infrastructure.
A home hydrogen fueling station utilizing Proton’s PEM water electrolysis technology eliminates the large-scale storage and long-distance transportation pieces of the supply chain by directly fueling the vehicle where the hydrogen is being generated. The storage depot and long-distance transportation functions of most fuel logistics streams are replaced by the existing water and electricity infrastructures. Furthermore, with the option of integrating electrolysis with a renewable electricity source like photovoltaic (PV) generation at the home, this approach can create a truly carbon-free fuel.
Proton is currently engaged in a feasibility study of the electrolysis-based hydrogen home fueling station approach by trading key technical parameters, operating cost, capital cost, code compliance, safety and operation-and-maintenance procedures. In parallel, development on a 5,000 psi stack design has been initiated. Proof of concept and initial prototyping will be discussed in the context of the trade study results.
Proton has recent and ongoing programs to demonstrate this technology for backup power applications, including a contract with the Army Construction Research Engineering Laboratory (CERL), which will be presented in this talk. The goal of the CERL program is to design an outdoor system consisting of a fuel cell, an electrolyzer, a power control/conditioning module, and a hydrogen storage system, powered by a diesel generator for a “silent camp” application. As part of that effort, a prototype outdoor high pressure electrolyzer is being developed that will generate up to 2 kg per day of hydrogen at 2,400 psi. Activities associated with this development at the cell stack and system level will be discussed.
Proton has also been engaged in activities to extend this high differential pressure capability to 5,000 psi (350 bar) for home fueling market applications. A major challenge associated with transitioning our nation’s transportation economy to any alternative fuel is developing online fuel production, storage, transportation and end-customer delivery infrastructure. A home-based hydrogen fueling station has the potential to be an attractive alternative to bridge the gap to a fully developed fueling infrastructure.
A home hydrogen fueling station utilizing Proton’s PEM water electrolysis technology eliminates the large-scale storage and long-distance transportation pieces of the supply chain by directly fueling the vehicle where the hydrogen is being generated. The storage depot and long-distance transportation functions of most fuel logistics streams are replaced by the existing water and electricity infrastructures. Furthermore, with the option of integrating electrolysis with a renewable electricity source like photovoltaic (PV) generation at the home, this approach can create a truly carbon-free fuel.
Proton is currently engaged in a feasibility study of the electrolysis-based hydrogen home fueling station approach by trading key technical parameters, operating cost, capital cost, code compliance, safety and operation-and-maintenance procedures. In parallel, development on a 5,000 psi stack design has been initiated. Proof of concept and initial prototyping will be discussed in the context of the trade study results.