Under Pressure | Green Energy News

May 16, 2004 – Vol.9 No.8

UNDER PRESSURE.

In terms of pressurized gases, it’s safe to say that motorists are comfortable with about 30 psi (pounds per square inch), the pressure needed to keep tires inflated.

But will drivers feel comfortable with cylinder of compressed gas (hydrogen in this case for a fuel cell vehicle) strung to the underside of their cars pressurized to 10,000 psi? The high pressure is what hydrogen fuel cell developers seem to be saying is necessary to store enough hydrogen on board a fuel cell vehicle for acceptable range - about 300 miles.

At this pressure - and the obvious danger involved - tanks as well as hydrogen filling and handling equipment will need to built to exacting standards, be serviced and maintained by trained technicians, require a certain education on the part of the driver, be inspected on regular basis and be tamper proof. In other words, handled with care and caution.

Quantum has delivered an up-to-10,000 psi hydrogen refueling system to General Motors which addresses some of these concerns. The refueling system has an interactive touch screen, one-button operation, automatic shut-off, and incorporates multiple redundant safety mechanisms. The refueler is also certified by Germany's regulatory agency, TUV (Technischer Uberwachungs Verein) which requires the units to safely manage pressure, temperature, and potential gas leakage issues with redundant safety features and thorough test and validation of components and systems.

The units include another important feature - a defueling capability. Some servicing on fuel cell vehicles will require the removal and storage of hydrogen - for safety concerns. Servicing fuel cell vehicles, potentially at thousands of dealers and independent repair garages, is another hurdle in fuel cell vehicle development and a hydrogen economy. Visit Quantum at http://www.qtww.com/