Status of Hydrogen Station
and Fleet Demonstration
at Penn State
Joel R. Anstrom, Ph.D.
February 2007
Director of Hybrid and Hydrogen Vehicle Research
Center at the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Hydrogen Station/Fleet Demonstration
Background
• Emergence of a renewable hydrogen economy is a major
component of a long-term U.S. energy security strategy
• DOE interim goals:
(until renewable hydrogen infrastructure in place)
– Produce hydrogen locally from natural gas
– Target costs and efficiencies competitive with gasoline
– Store hydrogen on-board vehicles
• APCI and DOE cost-shared H2 station goals for
transportation:
– Demonstrate commercial cost viability of H2 station
– Deliver hydrogen that meets performance criteria
– Demonstrate hydrogen station/fleet at Penn State
starting Summer 2006
Hydrogen Station/Fleet Demonstration
Background (continued)
•
Partners to demonstrate hydrogen station and fleet:
–
–
–
–
–
•
•
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APCI)
Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA)
Penn State Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Penn State Office of Physical Plant
Collier Technologies
APCI Hydrogen Station 50% DOE cost share, total $8M
Funding for startup, training, and one year operation of first HCNG bus,
HCNG van, and FCV:
– 2004 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Energy Harvest
Grant - $248,000
– 2004 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development $248,000
•
Funding for 6-7 more vans, a hydrogen HEV, two add’l years of operation
– 2006 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Alternative Fuels
Incentive Grant - $273,278
– 2006 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
$273,278
Hydrogen Station Description
H2 Fueling Station at Penn State
Vehicles
Fueling Station
Feedstocks
PTI FCV
H2
Storage
Compression
Compression
H2 Storage
OPP Vans
H2
NG
H2 Generator
H2 CNG
Blending
CATA buses
APCI
Electrolysis
HCNG Blend
ppt00 5
Hydrogen Station Description
(continued)
• APCI Hydrogen station capacity - 4 kg/hr, ~100 kg/day
• 24 car fills/day or 1 bus fill/day on hydrogen
• 3-4 bus fills/day on 30-35% H2 in CNG blend (HCNG)
• Fueling Plan (5 day/week, year round, cold climate):
– 2 H2 car fills/day at 0.6 kg (1.2 kg H2)
– 1-2 van fills/day of HCNG blend (2-4 kg H2)
– 1 bus fills/day of HCNG blend (26 kg H2)
– Plus future Penn State hydrogen research requirements
• Note: >40% load on hydrogen reformer required to
prevent frequent shutdown/startup cycles
Hydrogen Demonstration Elements
Partner - Contribution
• Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
(APCI) – develop and support
hydrogen station
• Centre Area Transportation
Authority (CATA) – operate up to
3 HCNG buses on campus route
• PSU Office of Physical Plant
(OPP) – operate up to 8 HCNG
vans on campus
• PSU Pennsylvania
Transportation Institute (PTI) –
CATA HCNG buses
manage demonstration, collect
data, integrate/operate electric
vehicle with PEM fuel cell
• Collier Technologies – perform
HCNG engine conversions,
training, and support
APCI H2 station
at Penn State
PTI PEM fuel cell car
PTI H2ICE HEV
OPP HCNG vans
APCI Hydrogen Station
• Reform 100 kg H2 per day
from natural gas
• Store 1500 gal of liquid H2
• Dispense H2 at 5000 psi
with communication fill to
CFCP standard
• Blend and dispense 30%
H2 by volume HCNG at
3600 psi open loop fill
• Status: Operational
HCNG Bus
• Chassis: 40’ New Flyer
CNG passenger bus
• Engine: 11 liter Daewoo
converted by Collier Tech
• Fuel Capacity: ~ 1600 l
@ 3600 psi of HCNG
• Operation: campus transit
• Fuel Consumption: ~3
mpg Diesel equivalent
• Fueling: daily
• Status: 1st bus conversion
and testing completed,
entering revenue service
HCNG Van
• Chassis: E 250 Ford utility van
• Engine: 4.6 l V8, 30% H2 in
HCNG
• Fuel Capacity: ~80 l at 3600
psi of HCNG
• Operation: campus work van
• Fuel consumption: ~8 mpg gas
equivalent
• Fueling: random 24/7
• Status: 1st van conversion and
testing completed, in service
• 6-7 additional vans beginning
conversion.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PSU Converted GM EV1 electric
vehicle chassis
1.2 kW Ballard Nexa PEM Fuel
Cell
26 l (0.6 kg) hydrogen tank, 5000
psi
Operation: test mule and grid
power generation
Fueling: twice daily
Fuel consumption: ~70 mpg gas
equivalent
PSU designed power electronics:
drive, braking, FC voltage boost,
charge, and vehicle-grid power
Status: operational with ongoing
tuning and refinement of drive
electronics and fuel cell boost
converter
PTI and APCI
collect data on
vehicles and
station
Seven HCNG
OPP vans operate
on campus, fuel
at random
Fuel cell vehicle
and H2ICE HEV
travel on
campus, fuel
daily
HCNG CATA bus
operates on Loop
Route consuming
majority of
hydrogen, fuels
daily
PSU Hydrogen Demonstration
Funding and Status as of 2/07
• H2 station on-line with liquid tank, blend unit, high
pressure storage, and dispensers
• CNG reformer on-line and producing hydrogen
• Funding secured for first bus, 7-8 vans, Fuel Cell Vehicle,
H2ICE HEV, and three years of hydrogen fleet operation.
• HyLion FCV filling on H2 and tuning drive system
• First HCNG van in service. Additional vans beginning
conversion to HCNG.
• Bus enter regular service on CNG and testing on HCNG.
Contact Information
Joel R. Anstrom
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
201 Transportation Research Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802
jra2@psu.edu
(814) 863-8904