Mobile hydrogen liquefaction and storage system

Abstract

A mobile hydrogen liquefaction and storage unit has been developed to demonstrate the liquid hydrogen (LH2) value chain including hydrogen production, liquefaction, storage, transfer, and recovery. This unique LH2 technology demonstrator, or LS20 mobile system, is one of the primary systems for a multipurpose LH2 test platform that evaluates liquefaction, controlled storage, and zero-loss transfer (ZLT) methodologies. The LS20 system has been designed, fabricated, and tested at GenH2. The primary subsystems include an electrolyzer option, gas precooler, Ortho-Para hydrogen converter, cryocooler-based hydrogen liquefier, portable LH2 storage tank, ultralight LH2 vehicle tank for aviation application, safety devices and sensors, automated venting system, associated sensors, instrumentation, and control system. The system was successfully demonstrated by continuous hydrogen liquefaction according to the design specification with the help of an automated control system to maintain the liquid at a desired level without boiloff loss. In addition to liquefaction and controlled storage, the functions of zero-loss transfer, boiloff gas recovery, and re-liquefaction were also demonstrated. The results provide proof-of-concept data for future LH2 infrastructure design as well as the critical LH2 refilling and servicing methodology for many hydrogen mobility applications. The system design, fabrication, operational methodology, and test performance results are discussed.