Integrated Alternative Energy Technology Demonstrations

NRC-IFCI has the facilities and capabilities to host integrated technology demonstration projects, with a primary objective to address both technical and non-technical barriers to deployment of fuel cell, hydrogen and clean energy technologies.

We do this by collaborating with industry partners and other government departments to design, install and operate prototype and early commercial clean energy systems. We provide a unique combination of skill sets and infrastructure to support these evaluations and field trials.

In addition to our technology development efforts, we also partner with academic institutes to allow assessment of social impacts of new technology deployment.

We further address non-technical barriers to commercialization through engaging permitting authorities, identifying legal and liability concerns, providing input to codes & standards development and promoting public awareness & acceptance of clean energy technologies.

NRC-IFCI technology demonstrations include:

• Pacific Spirit Station
• Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program
• Hydrogen Quality Assurance Project
• Solar Hydrogen Generation
• Building Integrated SOFC generator
• Specialized Applications System Testing
• Hydrogen Environment Chamber

Pacific Spirit Station (PSS)

In conjunction with our industry partners, BOC Canada & General Hydrogen and the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, we have designed and implemented a 350-Bar hydrogen fueling station. The Pacific Spirit Station (PSS) began operation in spring 2005, and is currently the fuelling station for many of the vehicles in the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program.

The fueling station consists of two stages of compression and storage supplied by BOC Canada, plus 450-Bar storage and dispensing supplied by General Hydrogen. System integration was performed by BOC with facilities integration, data management and operation by NRC.

The Pacific Spirit Station is one of the major stations along the Hydrogen Highway™. PSS affords research opportunities for students at our academic partner, the University of British Columbia through their partnership with Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Through our work on the station, we have developed initiatives in hydrogen quality assurance, resolution of product quality and general liability issues, as well as provided a significant industrial outreach component for the regional fuel cell cluster.

For more information, please refer to the NRC/UBC Fueling Station With Intelligent Compression publication (1MB PDF document, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) that was prepared in 2005.

Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program (VFCVP)

This project is a collaboration of various industry groups, federal and provincial governments, and fleet operators to demonstrate fuel cell vehicle technology in a real world environment. NRC-IFCI serves as the demonstration site, complete with fuelling station. Four of the Ford Focus fuel cell cars are maintained in NRC-IFCI's vehicle bay.

A major goal of this undertaking is to address barriers to commercialization and public acceptance. This is the first "multi-partnered" deployment of fuel cell vehicles; participants include the City of Vancouver, Ballard Power Systems, BC Hydro/Powertech, and BC Transit – Victoria.

Fuel Cells Canada, through funding from Natural Resources Canada, manages and coordinates the overall demonstration, and liaises with the Ford Motor Company, supplier of the vehicles under test. NRC-IFCI plays a supporting role by providing trained drivers, a service bay, workshop and qualified personnel to assist in performing breakdown, routine and preventative maintenance.

The NRC and FCC work together with regulatory authorities such as ICBC, Federal Fire Commissioner, BC Safety Authority, BC Fire Chiefs' Association, and BC Building Code. We gain exposure and experience in dealing with hydrogen safety, codes and standards, fuel dispensing, storage, fuel quality and distribution issues. We also benefit from experience gained in dealing with support facilities for hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.

This project will provide Ford with real world data to enable further improvement of their technology. These controlled demonstration fleets are essential in order for OEMs to meet their target of a production fuel cell vehicle by 2010. For more information, please refer to the VFCVP website.

Hydrogen Quality Assurance Project

As fuel cell cars and fuel cell generators enter the market, there is a greater demand for on-site hydrogen. In the past, the majority of fuel cell R&D has used hydrogen from a liquid tank for fuel supply. This source of hydrogen is extremely free of impurities and is economically sound and safe for stationary applications.

Consumer applications, such as fuel cell vehicles, will use compressed gas hydrogen generated or delivered from a variety of sources for fuel. While it is possible to achieve high purity hydrogen through these processes, the level of impurities must be verified. Current requirements are for impurity levels near or at the detection limits for many contaminants. In order to obtain valid results, sampling methods, sampling equipment, and analysis techniques must be developed.

In collaboration with BOC, Ballard Power Systems, Powertech Labs and others, NRC-IFCI will develop knowledge and techniques to sample and measure fuel quality.

Solar Hydrogen Generation

The Solar-H2 project was funded under the Federal House in Order (FHIO) plan. Working with BCIT, a Photovoltaic array capable of 7 kW peak power productions was installed, as well as a PEM electrolyser, which can produce 2 kg of hydrogen per day. The electrolyser is powered by the PV array during daylight and is augmented by the local power grid during cloudy weather and at night. The storage system will contain 20 kg of hydrogen.

The system reduces greenhouse gas emissions, since typical merchant hydrogen is processed from natural gas or other hydrocarbon fuels, releasing CO2 in the process. The hydrogen is then shipped to the final location by trailer, releasing more CO2 due to the engine on the carrier truck.
Part of the project involves supplying hydrogen gas to the labs for use in fuel cell testing. Alternatively, the hydrogen could be integrated into our system for fueling vehicles.

Building Integrated SOFC generator

NRC-IFCI has a 5kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generator onsite, which can provide electricity and heat for the institute's building. NRC-IFCI recently completed the installation of this fuel cell power generator that was built by Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT) of Kingston, Ontario. The SOFC power system operates at 700°C to 1000°C, similar to existing oil and gas furnaces. It converts hydrocarbon fuels directly into electrical energy and heat without the use of an intermediate combustion process. At NRC-IFCI, the SOFC powers recirculation pumps connected to Ground Source Heat Pumps that heat and cool a portion of the LEED Gold Facility.

Specialized Applications System Testing - Nexa-RM

In support of product development, NRC-IFCI is available to performance verify fuel cell systems. For example, the Institute verified the performance of individual fuel cell power modules, and the integrated system, ensuring that it met the stringent specifications required by BC Hydro. In addition, testing in NRC-IFCI's Hydrogen Environmental Chamber (HEC) was carried out. This testing ranged from sea level to 3000m altitude, -25C to +45C, and 5% to 95% R.H.

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation