Liquid Hydrogen Fueling and Delivery Components

Check valves perform an important role in the liquid hydrogen infrastructure, allowing flow in only one direction and self-closing to prevent potentially damaging backward flow. Hydrogen is seen as a replacement for hydrocarbon fuels and is expected to play an important role in the future as an environmentally clean transportation fuel serving markets such as trucks, marine, rail and aircraft. Growth in liquid hydrogen fueling markets requires reducing the cost to the end user. High flow rates are necessary for filling large vehicle onboard storage to meet the customerĺs acceptable refueling time. Check valves currently offered for liquid hydrogen service are expensive and have operating inefficiencies such as reverse flow leakage, and fluid flashing and cavitation which are common with cryogenic systems and can damage system components and reduce the delivered mass flow rate. Our project entails developing an improved check valve for liquid hydrogen application that handles the problems mentioned above, aiming to improve infrastructure safety and operating efficiency for reducing delivered hydrogen cost. In Phase I work, involving leak test temperature based on cryogenic liquid nitrogen and flow tests based on water, we successfully met the projectĺs proof of concept objectives for leak-tight shutoff in the reverse flow direction at cryogenic temperature (even after thousands of operating cycles), with high mass flow rate exceeding the equivalent of DOEĺs minimum target of 10 kg/minute hydrogen, and excellent flow dynamics for reducing risks of flashing and potentially damaging fluid cavitation. In Phase 2 we will further test to refine and validate our check valve design for liquid hydrogen applications, develop a cost-efficient manufacturing process, provide a compelling value proposition, and implement our commercialization plan. Liquid hydrogen fueling is at an early commercialization stage. This clean energy market will grow with the help from system components, such as our check valve, that improve efficiencies and reduce costs. SUMMARY for Members of Congress Check valves currently offered for liquid hydrogen service are expensive and have operating inefficiencies. Our project addresses the development of an improved check valve for liquid hydrogen application that handles these inefficiencies, aiming to enhance infrastructure safety and operating efficiency for reducing delivered hydrogen cost.