Hydrogen highway: An overview

Abstract

This article presents the status of the technology to conceptualize hydrogen as a fuel and fuel cell car and hydrogen fueling station i.e. hydrogen infrastructure. Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe and it is an energy carrier. It can be produced from several sources using various methods and delivered to the fueling station or even it can be produced at the fueling station. Electrolysis of water or reforming of hydrocarbons such as natural gas can produce hydrogen in a big plant or even at the fueling station. But when it is produced using renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal, or hydroelectric, it has zero emissions in well to wheel. Hydrogen powdered vehicles either burns hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, or reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell. Developing a chain of hydrogen-equipped fueling stations and other infrastructure along the city road or highway, which will allow hydrogen powered cars to travel, is basically the concept of hydrogen highway. More substantial delivery infrastructure for hydrogen will require the use of high-pressure compressors for gaseous hydrogen and liquefaction system for cryogenic hydrogen. Hydrogen can be transport by road via cylinders, tube trailers, cryogenic tankers, and in pipelines or can be produced onsite. Each of these delivery and production modes requires a significantly different fueling station design. While hydrogen dispensers are basically the same regardless of the delivery or production mode, but the compressed and liquid hydrogen fueled vehicles are completely different. These combinations of hydrogen delivery or production at the station, compressed or liquid hydrogen dispensing, and various components and integration alternatives make up the array of hydrogen fueling station design and visualize total hydrogen infrastructure. Today, all the major automobile manufacturers have one or more prototype hydrogen fuel cell cars in their lineup. Again the advent of onsite hydrogen production system and/or home hydrogen fueling stations can help with the present infrastructure shortcoming. Companies such as Honda, ITM Power and Hydrogenics have at least prototype home hydrogen production and pumps, that may be available soon.