The development of a web-based system to help industrial designers create hydrogen refuelling stations,
and another project producing emergency response materials, are ways that the C&S Working Group is helping expand communications of hydrogen-sector related information.

TISEC, a Montreal-based engineering firm, is part of a working group that has developed a hydrogen fuelling station design tool. The 3D model includes embedded links to an extensive codes and standards database. TISEC President Robert Hay said the 3D model enables users to design fuelling stations and their components with the benefit of interactive access to important regulatory information.

“The people we have demonstrated it to have been enthusiastic,” added Dr. Hay.

The model, available here, is undergoing continuous improvement. The recent additions of components to enhance fuelling station scenarios are now under review to ensure that the database information for various jurisdictional standards is accurate.

Gary Howard, formerly of Stuart Energy Systems (now with Hydrogenics), contributed to the C&S Working Group’s development of emergency mresponse guides for light-duty and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen fuelling stations. These projects are in collaboration with the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP).

The guides provide emergency procedures for operators of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fuelling stations. These materials are expected to serve as templates for regional authorities to develop site-specific guides.

Guides covering light duty and heavy-duty vehicles are
now available on the CTFCA member website. A hydrogen fuelling station guide is also complete and will be posted soon.

Ongoing work to review and revise the Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code (CHIC) is helping facilitate the approval of CTFCA hydrogen demonstration projects in Canada and building a pathway to commercialization.

Randy Dey, President of The CCS Global Group Inc., said a technical committee of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) is currently developing
the CHIC.

Mr. Dey, Chair of the BNQ Technical Committee, said the CHIC will cover installation requirements for new hydrogen technologies, such as hydrogen generation and dispensing equipment, storage containers, piping systems and related accessories.

A second draft of the CHIC was circulated to BNQ technical committee members on December 29, 2004 and is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2005. While the draft is not yet available to the public, Mr. Dey is enthusiastic about its development.

“This brings us a step closer to the publication of a code that will be an important tool for industry and regulators regarding the introduction of hydrogen in energy applications for home and office heating, generation of electricity and transportation in Canada,” noted Mr. Dey.

C&S Working Group projects answering fundamental questions about hydrogen fuel risks are bringing industry closer to installing hydrogen technologies in existing fuelling stations.

Dr. Andrei V. Tchouvelev, formely Vice President Codes and Standards, Stuart Energy Systems, and now President & CEO of A.V. Tchouvelev & Associates, Inc., led a project developing scientific and engineering guidelines for clearance distances and hazardous locations classification for hydrogen releases. He said these projects were completed in third quarter 2004.

The complete project report, including these recommendations, has been issued to the BNQ CHIC Technical Committee for its review. The report represents the first time that model codes development has been based on both hydrogen volume and pressure.

Dr. Tchouvelev is also leading the Canadian contribution to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 19 Hydrogen Safety program. Among their contributions, Canadians are looking at the Task 19 risk management program, including a risk assessment methodologies survey, probability and consequence analysis; CFD modelling; hydrogen component test program and failure database development; stakeholder outreach; and comparative quantitative risk assessment of hydrogen and CNG fuelling stations.

Joe Wong, Manager, Infrastructure Programs at BC Hydro’s Powertech Labs, said the results of risk analysis obtained for CNG could probably be extended to hydrogen. “CNG and hydrogen have similar properties in a sense that they are both buoyant (lighter than air) flammable gases that require compression to high pressure in order to store them,” he said.

Dr. Tchouvelev will present project developments at an upcoming CTFCA meeting in Vancouver. “Any discovery we make, whether positive or negative, is very useful,” he said. “There is a lot of uncharted water, but we are making good progress.”

An IEA expert workshop will be held in Paris in March to finalize the Task 19 three-year work plan.

An international team of hydrogen technology experts is developing requirements that will set a standard for fuel cell vehicle sensors worldwide.

The Fuel Cell Vehicle Oxidant Outlet H2 Sensor Project is a collaborative effort involving Ballard Power, Hydrogenics, Greenlight Power, NRC, AECL and hydrogen sensor suppliers from around the world. The project is developing a document that outlines testing specifications and other requirements for a sensor that monitors fuel cell system compliance with safety and certification guidelines.

Leading the oxidant outlet hydrogen sensor project is Ballard Power Senior Reliability Engineer Robert Holland. He reports that, while the project is in its early stages, it is moving forward on schedule.

“Parts for the test station are being purchased and the station is being built. We should have the test station delivered to NRC at the end of April and ready to start testing in June 2005,” he said. “By June 2006, all of the reporting and testing should be complete.”

General test results will available to CFTCA members and international standards organizations when completed. Sensor test results will be available to each
supplier confidentially.