Hydrogen fuelling stations get on-site evaluation testing equipment

Louise Davis

As part of CSA Group's ongoing efforts to help advance the safe deployment of clean energy – specifically hydrogen and fuel cell technologies - the firm has developed on-site evaluation testing equipment for hydrogen fuelling stations. CSA Group's mobile hydrogen dispenser testing apparatus (HDTA) and weights and measures device (WAM-D) validates hydrogen dispenser performance in accordance with ANSI/CSA HGV 4.3 and verifies point of sale accuracy following NIST Handbook 44.

 

The transportation sector represents a third of global energy demand and 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions – and has the lowest level of renewable energy use (IRENA 2017). Mass adoption of clean energy for transportation is highly dependent on the safe deployment of a fuelling infrastructure. Hydrogen continues to gain traction as a transportation fuel globally, with increasing commercial interest and automotive original equipment manufacturer development and production of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). Subsequently, there has been a greater focus in recent years to increase hydrogen fuelling infrastructure. Public hydrogen fuelling stations in service and in development are increasing in numbers, particularly in California and the Northeastern United States. New fuelling station projects, however, occasionally face delays in receiving approvals from Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that may not be familiar with hydrogen technology; therefore, stations face heightened scrutiny because onboard hydrogen must be stored under high pressure — up to 10,000 pounds per square inch. A station that has been independently verified to safely comply with the performance requirements specified in ANSI/CSA HGV 4.3 can ease the burden on the AHJ and result in smoother approvals.

 

Without a mobile test device like the HDTA, station owners must wait for each automotive OEM to bring a vehicle to their station for testing. The HDTA replaces the need for OEM vehicle testing at each station, reducing test time and associated costs. "CSA Group is proud to promote the advancement of a safe hydrogen fuelling infrastructure" says Rajiv Rajput, Executive Vice President of Strategic Development at CSA Group. "We are excited to offer this testing service to our customers, helping them efficiently deploy and commission hydrogen fuelling stations."

 

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