HYDROGEN PROGRAM |
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UC Irvine Hydrogen Station
Overview
Working closely with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., NFCRC installed the first hydrogen fueling station in Orange County, CA. The UC Irvine Hydrogen Fueling Station has evolved over time in its configuration and utilization as the need for hydrogen fueling in the area has increased.
First Generation Hydrogen Fueling Station
The first generation fueling system, the Air Products "SFC-2," was commissioned in January 2003. Key features include:
- Trucked in gaseous hydrogen supply via a "jumbo" tube trailer, which can hold up to 280 kg of hydrogen fuel when full
- Two fill per day design capacity
- Pneumatically driven hydrogen compressor
First generation hydrogen fueling station
Lessons learned:
- Positive: Fueling procedure is simple and easily learned
- Negative: Hydrogen compressor reliability is a challenge
The NFCRC SFC-2 provided 76 successful hydrogen fills before it was replaced with the second generation system.
Second Generation Hydrogen Fueling Station
The second generation fueling system, the Air Products "Series 100," was commissioned in November 2003. Key features include:
- Aesthetically pleasing "commercial" packaging
- Trucked in gaseous hydrogen supply via a smaller tube trailer with up to 110 kg hydrogen storage capacity
- Two to three fill per day design capacity
- Pneumatically driven hydrogen compressor
Second generation hydrogen fueling station
Lessons learned:
- Positive: Packaging important in conveying viability of technology
- Negative: Hydrogen compressor reliability is a challenge
The NFCRC Series 100 had provided hundreds of successful hydrogen fills by the time it was removed in June 2006. The system was removed to make room for the third generation Hydrogen Fueling Station at UC Irvine.
Third Generation Hydrogen Fueling Station
The third generation fueling system, with the Air Products “Series 200” at its core, was built during the third quarter of 2006. Funding has been provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, U.S. Department of Energy, Toyota, Honda and BMW. Key features include:
- Trucked in liquid hydrogen supply
- 25 kg/day design capacity (equivalent to 25 gal/day of gasoline, sufficient to refuel 8 fuel cell vehicles) with room to expand to 50 kg/day
- 350 bar (Phase l), 700 bar (Phase ll) and liquid (Phase lll) fueling capability
- Standalone fueling island for more traditional fueling experience
The
third generation system was brought on line in the third quarter of 2006.
UC Irvine Hydrogen Refueling Station Media Opening