Techno-economic and thermodynamic analysis of pre-cooling systems at gaseous hydrogen refueling stations

Journal Article · Mon Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.09.087· OSTI ID:1422579

Elgowainy, Amgad ^[1]; Reddi, Krishna ^[1]; Lee, Dong-Yeon ^[1]; Rustagi, Neha ^[2]; Gupta, Erika ^[2]

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1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
2. U.S. Department of Energy, Fuel Cell Technologies Office, Washington DC (United States)

In this study, we conducted a techno-economic and thermodynamic analysis of precooling units (PCUs) at hydrogen refueling stations and developed a cost-minimizing design algorithm for the PCU observing the SAE J2601 refueling protocol for T40 stations. In so doing, we identified major factors that affect PCU cost and energy use. The hydrogen precooling energy intensity depends strongly on the station utilization rate, but approaches 0.3 kWh_e/kg-H₂ at full utilization. In early fuel cell electric vehicle markets where utilization of the refueling capacity is low, the overhead cooling load (to keep the heat exchanger cold at -40°C) results in significantly high PCU energy intensity because only a small amount of hydrogen is being dispensed. We developed a parameterized precooling energy intensity prediction formula as a function of the ambient temperature and station utilization rate. We also found that the Joule-Thomson effect of the flow control device introduces a significant increase in temperature upstream of the PCU’s heat exchanger (HX), which impacts the PCU design capacity. An optimal PCU (per dispenser, at 35°C HX inlet temperature) consists of a 13-kW refrigerator and a HX with 1400 kg of thermal mass (aluminum), which currently costs $70,000 (uninstalled). Finally, the total (installed) capital and operation cost of PCU at a fully utilized hydrogen refueling station adds $0.50/kg-H₂.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1422579
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1496272
• Journal Information: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 42, Issue 49; ISSN 0360-3199
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
42 ENGINEERING
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
Hydrogen refueling
Pre-cooling
Refrigeration
Heat exchanger
Cost
Energy