Plant Services - March 2008 - (Page 25)

TECHNOLOGY TOOLBOX Hydrogen in action Fuel cells have the power to move you Trial results: Early results are promising. Raymond has ydrogen power is cleaner and more efficient than found its fuel cell-powered systems have equivalent perforfossil fuel, and it has better reliability and lower mance in terms of top speed, acceleration, braking distance maintenance requirements than batteries. The and lift speed. And, the trucks stay in operation longer than technology has particular merit for material-handling equipthose operating with battery packs. ment that is common in indoor industrial environments. “Companies can offset the cost of fuel cell trucks with “Concerns about oil supply, climate change and the enviincreased productivity,” Medwin says. “Our fuel tanks are ronment make hydrogen fuel cells a logical addition to the sized to run 1.5 shifts, whereas a battery lasts one shift. It portfolio of alternative energy sources,” says Gunnar Waltakes less time to reload a fuel cell than to change a batmet, director at the New York State Energy and Resource tery; the operators can do their own refueling within one or Development Authority (NYSERDA). two minutes. In addition, fuel cell lift trucks Fuel cell forklift developments: In 2007, a provide constant performance, while battery public-private partnership with The Raymond voltage drops.” Corp., NYSERDA and the New York State The life of Lower life cycle costs are a benefit. The Power Authority was established to research the stack is life of the stack is between 7,500 hours and hydrogen fuel cell applications in electric lift between 7,500 10,000 hours, depending on use, maintenance trucks. Systems from Nuvera Fuel Cells, Plug hours and and service. Batteries have a life expectancy of Power and Hydrogenics were incorporated five years. Fuel cell trucks require less mainteinto four reach and pallet trucks currently 10,000 hours. nance than electric units because there are no undergoing a two-year trial at Raymond’s batteries or battery rooms to maintain. Greene, N.Y., facility, performing work in the From an environmental perspective, clean fuel cell tech“living lab” while being monitored for reliability, consumpnologies have an advantage over fuel-burning equipment that tion and safety under real-world conditions. emits carbon monoxide, DC motors that generate carbon “The current fuel cell systems are hybrids running on hydust and lead-acid battery-powered equipment. drogen and using a battery or supercapacitors,” explains Steve Logistical and safety considerations: The biggest cost Medwin, Raymond’s manager of advanced research. “This first for a fuel-cell lift truck is hydrogen transportation. If large step is a battery emulator to replace batteries with fuel cells in quantities are needed, it might be worth generating hydrocurrent trucks. We foresee a clean-sheet truck design that runs gen on site from a renewable source such as wind, solar or only on hydrogen, with the fuel cell mounted in the truck.” hydro power. Another consideration is the number and loThe hybrid trucks draw on proton exchange membranecation of hydrogen dispensers. You might want to install based fuel cells, in which a chemical reaction between hydrogen more than one dispenser at the site. and oxygen generates electricity. Individual cells are combined As with any other industrial gas, hydrogen needs to be into a stack, the size of which determines power output. The treated with respect. Hydrogen awareness education is manhydrogen stored in an on-board tank is converted to electricity datory to ensure the safe maintenance and operation of fuel as needed, and water and heat are the only byproducts. cell equipment and hydrogen storage and refueling faciliThe test trial uses an indoor fast-fill hydrogen refueling ties, as well as to convey emergency response procedures. infrastructure from Nuvera. Normally, refueling systems are installed outdoors. The refueling station is in an explosion-proof area with sensors for hydrogen leaks, and the gas E-mail Contributing Editor Sheila Kennedy, managing director of is drawn from tube trailers located outside the facility. Additive Communications, at Sheila@addcomm.com. For more information, see: www.nyserda.org www.raymondcorp.com March 2008 H www.nuvera.com www.plugpower.com www.hydrogenics.com www.PLANTSERVICES.com www.plantservices.com/ articles/2002/137.html 25 http://www.nuvera.com http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2002/137.html http://www.nyserda.org http://www.plugpower.com http://www.raymondcorp.com http://www.hydrogenics.com http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Plant Services - March 2008

Plant Services - March 2008 Contents From The Editor Letters The PS Files Up and Running Crisis Corner What Works Asset Manager: Enterprise Thinking Technology Toolbox: Hydrogen In Action Cover Story: Get Real Electrical: Reliable Distribution Power Transmission: When the Belt Breaks Web Hunter: Tooting Horns In the Trenches Product Picks Classifieds Fast Facts Energy Expert: Energy versus Sustainability

Plant Services - March 2008

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