Air Liquide commissions world’s largest hydrogen storage facility, underground
January 5, 2017New hydrogen storage facility will be located in Texas
Air Liquide has commissioned the world’s largest hydrogen storage facility, which will be based in Beaumont, Texas. The new hydrogen storage facility will be located in an underground cavern and will compliment Air Liquide’s already considerable hydrogen supply line. The cavern is 1,500 meters below the surface and is 70 meters in diameter. According to Air Liquide, the cavern will be able to store enough hydrogen to power a backup, large-scale methane reformer for 30 days.
Hydrogen continues to grow in popularity, but storage remains a common issue
Hydrogen fuel has become a very popular form of clean power, particularly in the auto industry. Hydrogen is consumed by fuel cells to generate electricity, and these energy systems have been around since the 1830’s. Fuel cells have established themselves in several sectors, but one of their major challenges is efficient storage. Storing hydrogen has been a complicated issue, largely due to the volatility of the fuel as well as the energy required to convert hydrogen into a liquid.
Hydrogen storage facility will provide fuel to several industrial sectors
The new hydrogen storage facility is expected to serve various industrial sectors. Hydrogen is often used in the process of refining petrochemicals, and many organizations are beginning to show strong support for fuel cells. Hydrogen is also often used as a form of chemical storage for other forms of renewable energy, such as solar power. Surplus electricity generated by solar panels, wind turbines, and other clean energy solutions can be used to produce hydrogen, which can then be consumed by a fuel cell system to generate power.
Air Liquide continues work to establish a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure
Air Liquide believes that the new hydrogen storage facility will provide its customers with a more reliable service, allowing them to access hydrogen as they need to. Air Liquide has been instrumental in establishing a comprehensive, interconnected hydrogen infrastructure. The company has invested heavily in the development of hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles, as well as the overall hydrogen supply line.
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One good and important reason for using SOFC which operate at 800 degree instead of PEMFC ( operate at 60 degrees) is that the problem of impure hydrogen. Most of the available cheap hydrogen comes from industrial sources. Hydrocarbon reforming is the source of industrial hydrogen. Industrial hydrogen contains carbon monoxide. PEMFC cannot works with hydrogen that contains few percent of Carbon monoxide. SOFC can tolerate high concentrations of poisonous CO.
Who needs hydrogen gas stations or solid state hydrogen storage. Air Liquid can produce cylinders of hydrogen gas at any desired pressure. These hydrogen cylinders can be sold in every gas stations, 7/11 stores, Wall Mart, Safeway and other stores. These cylinders are like propane gas barbecue cylinders. If you are in sweet Grass ( small town at the Us Canada Border) you can still buy a hydrogen cylinder.
Dirk Bethge
17.April 2017
Ich habe mal einen Bericht im Fernsehen gehen über einen Elektrofahrradhersteller in Frankreich. Dieser hat statt einer Batterie eine Brenstoffzelle eingebaut und dann Wechselstoffzylinder als Kartusche verwendet. Diese Fahrraeder sollen bei der Post zum Einsatz kommen.