FEASIBILITY OF HOME HYDROGEN REFUELING HHR SYSTEM FOR
FEASIBILITY OF HOME HYDROGEN REFUELING (HHR) SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED PLUG-IN HYDROGEN VEHICLE APPLICATIONS Michael Pien, Steven A. Lis, and Radha Jalan Electro. Chem, Inc. 400 West Cummings Park Woburn, MA 01801 Present at NHA Conference and Hydrogen Expo April 1, 2009
Outline • • • Background Home Refueling System Electro. Chem HHR approaches Bottoms-up Analysis Conclusions Electro. Chem, Inc.
H 2 for Transportation - Long Term • Large scale Centralized natural gas reforming is the most cost-effective hydrogen production pathway • An increase in U. S. natural gas consumption of about 2% would support sufficient hydrogen production to fuel 10 million FCEVs Electro. Chem, Inc.
H 2 for Transportation - Long Term • A more significant hydrogen fueling challenge is downstream at the retail level • The key issue is the early market introduction period and the transition to high volume Electro. Chem, Inc.
H 2 for Transportation - Near Term • Home Refueling System Generate hydrogen at home • Hydrogen pathways Nature gas reforming Water electrolysis (alkaline) Water electrolysis (PEM) Electro. Chem, Inc.
Fundamental Technology Characteristics Alkaline Electrolyzer Factor Reformer Toxic Chemical Hazard Potential for poisonous CO or natural gas leakage Uses Concentrated Caustic Soda None Hydrogen Purity Requires Purification No Purification Needed Green House Emissions CO 2 emitted as byproduct None Resource Availability Natural Gas is Not Available Everywhere Water and Electricity is in Every Home Electro. Chem, Inc. PEM Electrolyzer
Advantages of PEM Electrolyzer • • High Hydrogen Purity No Green house Emission No Toxic chemical Hazard High Resources Availability Electro. Chem, Inc.
Electro. Chem’s Home H 2 Refueler (HHR) • Provides 1 kg of H 2 directly to vehicle storage tank • Using lower cost off-peak electricity • No high pressure H 2 is stored in the appliance • Simple and computer control • No “infrastructure” investment needed Electro. Chem, Inc.
Benefits of Electro. Chem’s HHR • Sufficient for 65 mile driving range • Small and compact • Simplified for maximum safety and minimum cost • Modest Installation Cost – similar to a conventional air conditioning system Electro. Chem, Inc.
Challenges for PEM Electrolyzer • Water separation • High pressure gas crossover Electro. Chem, Inc.
Electro. Chem’s Solution for HHR • Integrated Flow Field (IFF) IFF’s breakthrough is on the development of flow field material and structure that allows Major system simplification Size reduction Cost saving • New membrane material Nanocomposite technology allows Electrochemical compression Electro. Chem, Inc.
HHR’s operating Target Parameter Electro. Chem, Inc. Value Units Hydrogen Production Capacity 1 kg/day Period of Operation 8 hrs Operating Voltage 240 Volts (AC) Power Use During Operation 6. 3 k. W Physical Size 2 x 2 x 2 feet Daily Commute 35 Miles Mileage Efficiency of Vehicle 65. 7 Miles per kg Capacity Utilization 50% Product Life 10 Years
Schematic of the HHR Appliance Electro. Chem, Inc.
Competitive Hydrogen Price • Hydrogen is price-competitive with gasoline when a kg of hydrogen is twice the price of a gallon of gasoline Electro. Chem, Inc.
Operating Costs Installed Appliance Cost $2221 Annual Mortgage Cost $331 Annual Maintenance $50 Power Cost $0. 035/k. W-hr Power Cost of H 2 $1. 76/kg Annual Power Cost @ 50% Utilization $322 Total Annual Fuel Cost @ 50% Utilization $703 H 2 cost @ 50% Utilization $3. 85/kg H 2 cost @ 100% Utilization $2. 81/kg A small appliance based on the HHR technology can efficiently refuel individual hydrogen vehicles using off-peak power @ $0. 035/k. W-hr for as little as $2. 81/kg of H 2. Electro. Chem, Inc.
Cost Components of the HHR Appliance Electro. Chem, Inc.
The Effective Cost of Hydrogen Fuel The effective cost of hydrogen fuel is sensitive to several factors, but remain in the vicinity competitive to current gasoline prices Electro. Chem, Inc.
The Effective Cost of Hydrogen Fuel Annual costs are compared with a gasoline vehicle having a mileage of 30 mpg, which the HHR makes significantly lower under most pricing scenarios Electro. Chem, Inc.
Conclusion I • Demonstrated a unique Home H 2 Refueler (HHR) design that allows great simplifications, yet high performance, for PEM electrolyzer technology suitable for automotive home refueling systems. • A home-based hydrogen electrolyzer refueling system for charging advanced plug-in hybrid vehicles is feasible using night time off-peak electricity power. • A bottoms-up analysis shows that a small appliance based on this technology can efficiently refuel individual hydrogen vehicles using off-peak power for as little as $2. 81/kg of H 2. Electro. Chem, Inc.
Conclusion II A paradigm shift of H 2 for Transportation – Enabler for Both Near and Long Terms Think about hydrogen the same way we think about electricity • Installed wherever there is electricity • Reduce hardware development costs • Allow for rapid engineering enhancement • Allow to store hydrogen from intermittent renewable resources (e. g. wind, solar) Electro. Chem, Inc.
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