engleski

Hydrogen refuelling station with integrated metal hydride compressor: layout features and experience of two-year operation

In [1, 2] we reported about development of metal hydride (MH) extension tank for fuel cell powered forklift, along with H2 refuelling station with integrated MH compressor. An overview of the MH compressors developed at SAIAMC and HySA Systems can be found in [3]. Here, we present the details about layout and operation of the H2 refuelling station at Impala Platinum refineries in Springs, South Africa, since its start-up in October 2015 (officially launched on March 31, 2016). The station provides H2 dispensing at the pressure up to 185 bar and uses pipeline H2 (P~50 bar) available at the customer site. H2 compression to P=200 bar with productivity up to 13 Nm3/h is provided by the integrated 1-stage metal hydride (MH) H2 compressor which uses steam (T~130 °C) for the heating and circulating water (T~20 °C) for the cooling ; both steam and water are also available from the customer infrastructure. The station also includes H2 dispenser, buffer tank (standard gas cylinder pack), and control block on the basis of Siemens Program Logic Controller (PLC) which provides fully automated system operation. Switching H2 and steam / water flows is carried out with the help of remotely controlled, pneumatically actuated valves and auxiliary check valves. The H2 discharge line is also equipped with a safety relief valve for H2 venting if overpressure (>210 bar) takes place. Additionally, at P=200 bar the control block switches the system into standby mode when both MH compression modules are cooled down and their gas manifolds are connected to the H2 supply line. The H2 dispensing is independent on the compressor operation and takes from 6 to 15 minutes.

refuelling station ; metal hydride compressor ; hydrogen

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