Since January 1st 2024, the DelHyVEHR European project has been working to make the distribution of liquid hydrogen viable at high rate, enabling its use as a clean energy carrier across various industries. Benkei, with the coordinator ENGIE Lab Crigen – the ENGIE Group’s research center for energy transition – manages the management of this ambitious project.
Renewable hydrogen, especially as Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), can greatly reduce carbon emissions across energy, chemical and mobility industries. Its production has doubled in the past five years. Initially used in space exploration and semiconductors, LH2 is now being considered for powering heavy-duty vehicles like planes, boats and trains.
However, if technologies are mature for light vehicles fast refuelling, it is still a challenge for heavy duty applications.
The DelHyVEHR project aims to develop a high-capacity LH2 refuelling station, promoting sustainable and low-emission heavy duty vehicle usage.
This 3-years Horizon Europe project, supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, gathers 13 partners covering the whole value chain from component development to system demonstration and assessment.
The project received a European contribution of €3.7 million, €866k funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and €1.3 million from UK Research and Innovation.
Target: a flow rate of 5 tons per hour of LH2!
The DelHyVEHR refuelling station should be able to deliver, with high robustness, a flow rate of up to 5 tons per hour! This will be accomplished by using a highly efficient cryogenic centrifugal pump and an innovative loading line. The loading line features a flexible hose for optimal insulation performance and design longevity, along with a Quick Connect Disconnect Coupling equipped with self-sealing cryogenic valves that can operate repeatedly at -253°C (20K).
DelHyVEHR will also mature a Boil of O Gas (BOG) recovering system and will validate accurate analytical BOG prediction model and multiphase CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation of the refuelling operations.
The project is expected to end up at TRL6 by the end of 2026.
For a start…
By the end of 2024, the objective is to achieve a first design of each technological part of the refuelling station and their integration, to prepare the prototyping phase.
The system functional analysis has started with the creation of a global assumption document which was drawn up at the project Kick-Off Meeting, allowing to outline each partners’ work and their interdependence. The design activities of each station’s component have begun accordingly. To be followed…
The project coordinator, from ENGIE lab Crigen, and the consortium members are supported by Laurence Naiglin from Benkei for the management of the project.
More information: https://delhyvehr.eu/ and https://www.benkei.eu/our-projects/delhyvehr/
Follow us at : https://www.linkedin.com/company/delhyvehr
Disclaimer: The content of this article reflects only the author’s view and his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
Acknowledgments: Co-funded by the European Union. The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen partnership and its members. Co-funded by the UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss Confederation.