Hydrogen Delivery
Like gasoline fueling stations, hydrogen fueling stations can have their hydrogen delivered. This is the most common method of supplying hydrogen to small hydrogen fueling stations. Hydrogen can be delivered several ways.
Hydrogen fueling stations can have their fuel delivered by truck as compressed gas or liquid hydrogen. If it is delivered as compressed gas, the hydrogen is transported on tube trailers in long, tubular cylinders. At the fueling station, the cylinders are unloaded, and empty cylinders are loaded for return to the production facility. Alternatively, the hydrogen in the cylinders can be transferred to the station's storage containers.
Compressed hydrogen fuel tanks can be delivered by truck or rail.
Hydrogen fueling stations can also have their fuel delivered as liquid hydrogen, which has more energy per unit of volume than compressed hydrogen gas. In this case, the hydrogen is transported in cryogenic, 15,000-gallon liquid tanker trailers. Once at the station, it is stored in double-walled, vacuum-insulated tanks. Substantial energy—about 30% of the fuel's energy—is necessary to liquefy gaseous hydrogen, so this method is used primarily to maximize shipping, storage, and dispensing capacity.
Finally, the most economical means of hydrogen delivery is by pipeline. However, the capital costs of pipeline construction are only cost-effective for very large-scale facilities. Today, about 700 miles of hydrogen pipeline connect production facilities with industrial users such as oil refineries and chemical plants. Delivering hydrogen to fueling stations by pipeline will likely be rare until hydrogen production reaches larger volumes. However, some proposed projects include plans for hydrogen fueling stations located near existing pipelines to take advantage of this hydrogen source.
National codes and standards address each of these delivery methods, and local authorities having jurisdiction may have regulations as well. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation regulates hydrogen transportation. Learn more about the codes and standards related to hydrogen transportation and delivery.