U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program
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Distributed Hydrogen Fueling Systems Analysis

Project Summary

Full Title: H2 Production Infrastructure Analysis - Task 1: Distributed Hydrogen Fueling Systems Analysis
Project ID: 78
Principal Investigator: Brian James
Keywords: Hydrogen infrastructure; costs; methanol; hydrogen fueling

Purpose

As the DOE considers both direct hydrogen and reformer-based fuel cell vehicles, it is vital to have a clear perspective of the relative infrastructure costs to supply each prospective fuel (gasoline, methanol, or hydrogen). Consequently, this analysis compares these infrastructure costs as well as the cost to remove sulfur from gasoline (as will most likely be required for use in fuel cell systems) and the cost implications for several hydrogen tank filling options. This analysis supports Analysis Milestone A2 (“issue a report on the infrastructure analysis for the transition”).

Performer

Principal Investigator: Brian James
Organization:Directed Technologies, Inc. (DTI)
Address:One Virginia Square 3601 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
Telephone:703-243-3383
Email:Brian_James@DirectedTechnologies.com
Additional Performers: Ira Kuhn, Jr., Directed Technologies, Inc.; Franklin Lomax, Jr., Directed Technologies, Inc.; Jennifer Pinvan, Directed Technologies, Inc.; John Reardon, Directed Technologies, Inc.; Sandy Thomas, Directed Technologies, Inc.

Sponsor(s)

Name:Sig Gronich
Organization:DOE/OPT
Telephone:202-586-1623
Email:SigmundGronich@ee.doe.gov

Period of Performance

Start: January 1999
End: October 2000

Project Description

Type of Project: Analysis
Category: Hydrogen Fuel Pathways
Objectives: Compare likely costs for gasoline, methanol, and hydrogen infrastructures as measured in $/new vehicle sold; Examine cost of gasoline sulfur removal; Examine H2 tank filling options.
Technologies Considered: Gasoline desulfurization, methanol steam reforming, methanol autothermal reforming, cascade tank filling, booster-compressor tank filling, electrolysis, electricity and hydrogen coproduction
Inputs:
  • Description: Historical gasoline infrastructure investments
Methodology/Approach: Mechanical design of methanol reformers
Outputs: Estimates of annual infrastructure creation/maintenance costs for gasoline, methanol, and hydrogen; Capital cost estimates for a small-scale on-site methanol reformer; Comparison of hydrogen tank filling options (cascade vs. booster); Assessment of electrolytic hydrogen production and electricity/hydrogen co-sale options.
Timeframe Studied: 2000

Products/Deliverables

 


Date Last Updated: 10/04/2006