Hydrogen Ventilation Safety System Team 004 4 Bjorn

Hydrogen Ventilation Safety System Team 004 -4 Bjorn “Jay” Carandang, Captain Jawadali Ahmed Chrystina Cappello James Coffey Jedidiah Daviau Advisor: Dr. Marylin Huff

Overview l l Importance of hydrogen ventilation Problem l l l Possible solutions Work done towards solution Solution l l l Components Cost Environmental Impact

Problem Background l l l Hydrogen: The fuel of the future Hydrogen properties Fuel tanks http: //www. rps. psu. edu/hydrogen/station 01. html Abdel-Aal, H. K. , et al.

Problem Background: H 2 Tank l l Multi-Layer Composite Two typical ways high pressure tanks fail l l Liners slip past each other Helical winding of fibers http: //world. honda. com/Fuel. Cell/FCX/tank/ http: //car. pege. org/2006 -hannover/hydrogen-gas-tank. htm US Pat. No. 7, 169, 214 B 2

Problem Statement It is possible for leaked hydrogen from a fuelcell vehicle’s storage tank to create an ignitable atmosphere when enclosed in a garage. Damage from hydrogen ignition may harm persons or property.

Work Done Towards Solution l Prevent hydrogen leak in a (moving) vehicle l l l Ventilation system for vehicle’s enclosed environment l l l Diffusion Channeling Nitrogen Flushing Absorption Nitrogen Flushing Airflow Modeling

Absorption of Hydrogen Gas Limitations • Heavy (contains metal hydride) • Excessive Energy • Remove Hydrogen Ions

Nitrogen Flushing Limitations • Complex • Sensors Require Power • Less Breathable

Solution l Technical details l l l Electric switch Ventilation Hydrogen sensor Cost Environmental impact

Solution: Fan Requirements l l l Minimum 10% volume of garage air should be circulated per minute Spark-proof Protected from obstruction Image source: University of California Riverside Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Solution: Electric Switch l l Accepts small DC current from the sensor circuit. Outputs on/off AC signal that can control the fan. Image © John Hewes 2007

Solution: The Sensor Thin-film Palladium technology l 0. 5% to 5% H 2; Tolerance at 1% H 2 is ± 0. 23% H 2 l Hydrogen-specific l Can be interfaced with power relay or computer l Left image: http: //www. eere. energy. gov/industry/sensors_automation/pdfs/h 2_monitoring. pdf Right Image from http: //www. h 2 scan. com/600. aspx; modified by Bjorn Carandang

Model Garage Sensor Fan Front Air Vent Hydrogen tanks Electrical switch Power supply (from House) Car image from: http: //www. physics. ohio-state. edu/~barrett/energy/hydrogen-fuelcells/honda. fcx. jpg, edited by Bjorn Carandang. Garage environment created by Bjorn Carandang and edited by Jawadali Ahmed

Impacts l Release of large quantities of hydrogen gas into the atmosphere l l l Hydrogen gas will rise and mix with oxygen to produce water vapor “would result in atmospheric cooling and disturbance of ozone chemistry” However, the ability of soil absorption of hydrogen currently unknown (Tromp et al. 1740(3))

System Cost 270 cfm casement fan $150. 00 -$200. 00 Hydrogen Sensor $1500. 00 Vent/ductwork $25. 00 est. Electrical $50. 00 est. Total Estimated Cost $1725. 00 -$1825. 00 (not including labor) Created by Jedidiah Daviau

Summary l Our solution is… l l l Viable Easy to install Reasonably priced Safe Environmentally friendly

Future Research 1. 2. 3. Extreme Weather Conditions and Environments Large/Multiple Car Garages Interfacing with sensors onboard the vehicle

References l l l l Abdel-Aal, H. K. , et al. "A New Approach to Utilize Hydrogen as a Safe Fuel. " _International Journal of Hydrogen Energy_ 30. 13 -14 (2005/0): 1511 -4. Buttner, William. “Today’s Commercial Hydrogen Sensors. ” 4 Apr. 2007. International Center for Sensor Science and Engineering. 25 Apr. 2007. "Comparative Climatic Data. " National Environment Satellite, Data, and Information Service. 06 May 2007. NOAA Satellites and Information. 6 May 2007 <http: //ols. nndc. noaa. gov/plolstore/plsql/ olstore. prodspecific? prodnum=C 00095 -PUB -A 0001>. "Hazardous Location Explosion Proof Fans. " Industrial Fans Direct. 2007. Higher Power Supplies, Inc. . 12 May 2007 <http: //www. industrialfansdirect. com/Merchant 2/ merchant. mvc? Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FANS&Category_Code=IND-FA-HL>. Kubo et al, “High Pressure Tank, ” U. S. Patent 7, 169, 214, Jan. 30, 2007. Powell, Mike and Joel Aguilar, H 2 scan inc. Phone conversation. 6: 30 PM. 25. Apr. 2007. Tromp, Tracey K. , et al. Science; Potential Environmental Impact of a Hydrogen Economy on the Stratosphere. (Reports). Vol. 300. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2003. Vaccaro, Frank J. Hydrogen Gas Evolution and Ventilation From Battery Rooms. Experimental Efforts. 2002. Battery Power Company Inc. 2 May 2007 <http: //www. battcon. com/Papers. Final 2002/ Vaccaro. Paper 2002. pdf>.

Acknowledgements l l l l Dr. Marylin C. Huff – Advisor; COE Mr. Jay Bhatt – Engineering Librarian, Hagerty Library Mr. Kevin Ayers – COE Dr. Richard Cairncross – Chemical Engineering Dr. Daniel King – Chemistry Department Mr. Mike Powell and Mr. Joel Aguilar - H 2 scan Inc. The WITs - Drexel University

Questions?