Off-site Stations Research Articles

Economic analysis of hydrogen refueling station considering different operation modes

Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are crucial infrastructures for the advancement of hydrogen energy. To promote and construct HRSs, a cost-benefit analysis is essential. Factors such as hydrogen transportation, storage, production technology, and subsidy policies can impact the costs. This paper aims to analyze the economics of HRSs under four operation modes, ie., on-site hydrogen production, off-site production with pipeline transportation, off-site production with tube trailer, and off-site production with liquid hydrogen tanker. Two life-cycle analysis models, an annualized cost model for hydrogen transportation and a levelized cost model for HRSs, are established for economic assessment. The study reveals that hydrogen supply costs account for over 50% of the LCOH for off-site station, and power costs drive up the LCOH for on-site station. Among the four operation modes, off-site station with pipeline is most economical, and the cost advantage increases as pipeline capacity utilization rate reaches 100%, but decreases as it drops to 20%. off-site station with long tubes is economical within 300 km, and off-site station with liquid hydrogen tankers is more economical within 300km∼1,000 km. On-site hydrogen production by water electrolysis is not economical at a cost of 35.24 CNY/kg. The optimal operation scheme under different hydrogen source distances is proposed.

Fleet Operator Perspectives on Heavy-duty Vehicle Alternative Fueling Infrastructure

Despite the aggressive policy goals aiming to transition heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) toward zero-emission technologies, the penetration rates of zero-emission or even alternative fuel technologies (including zero-emission and other fuels cleaner than petroleum) are still very low. Given that the majority of HDVs are used as fleet vehicles, a better understanding of fleet operator behavior and perspectives on clean fuel technologies is crucial to develop effective demand-side strategies to achieve such policy goals. Of many adoption barriers, a well-known major obstacle is the lack of fueling/charging infrastructure. However, there is limited understanding on how HDV fleet operators have navigated the issues involving the insufficient infrastructure. This study explores how HDV fleets have used alternative fueling infrastructure, how dis/satisfied fleet operators are with the infrastructure, and for what reasons they have decided to construct their own on-site fueling facilities, or to use off-site stations. Based on a case study of compressed natural gas, the most prevalent alternative fuel option so far in the HDV sector, 17 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with HDV fleet operators in California. Content and thematic analyses of the data yielded detailed qualitative inferences on use behavior, satisfaction, and fleet decisions between on-site versus off-site fueling. The study findings are the first step toward enhancing our understanding of HDV fleet behavior regarding alternative fueling infrastructure, which can contribute to filling the knowledge gap in this field and to developing further research questions to elicit policy recommendations that can support the adoption of clean fuel technologies in HDV fleets.

さいたま市における東京ガスの水素ステーションについて

URAWA hydrogen refueling station is as on-site station which products and supplies hydrogen locally, and it is the main station for shipping hydrogen among TOKYO GAS's stations. Hydrogen which is produced at URAWA hydrogen refueling station is used for filling Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs), and is shipped to neighboring off-site stations such as NERIMA(tokyo) hydrogen refueling station. As it produces hydrogen by reforming city gas pipeline network, carrying hydrogen is not needed and stable supply can be performed. URAWA hydrogen refueling station is associated to a natural gas station. The station incurs operates more efficiently by sharing some of its equipment with the compressed natural gas station.

Development of a remotely controlled debris flow monitoring system in the Dolomites (Acquabona, Italy)

AbstractDirect measurements of the hydrological conditions for the occurrence of debris flows and of flow behaviour are of the outmost importance for developing effective flow prevention techniques. An automated and remotely controlled monitoring system was installed in Acquabona Creek in the Dolomites, Italian Eastern Alps, where debris flows occur every year. Its present configuration consists of three on‐site stations, located in the debris‐flow initiation area, in the lower channel and in the retention basin. The monitoring system is equipped with sensors for measuring rainfall, pore‐water pressure in the mobile channel bottom, ground vibrations, debris flow depth, total normal stress and fluid pore‐pressure at the base of the flow. Three video cameras take motion pictures of the events at the initiation zone, in the lower channel and in the deposition area. Data from the on‐site stations are radio‐transmitted to an off‐site station and stored in a host PC, from where they are telemetrically downloaded and used by the Padova University for the study of debris flows. The efficiency of the sensors and of the whole monitoring system has been verified by the analysis of data collected so far. Examples of these data are presented and briefly discussed. If implemented at the numerous debris‐flow sites in the Dolomitic Region, the technology used, derived from the development of this system, will provide civil defence and warn residents of impending debris flows. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.