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Hartmann, Kevin

Publications and source records attributed to Hartmann, Kevin.

24 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

The NREL Sensor Laboratory: Status and Future Directions for Hydrogen Detection

The NREL Hydrogen Sensor Laboratory was commissioned in 2010 as a resource for the national and international hydrogen community to ensure the availability and proper use of hydrogen sensors. Since then, the Sensor Laboratory has provided unbiased verification of hydrogen sensor performance for sensor developers, end-users, and regulatory agencies and has also provided active support for numerous code and standards development organizations. Although sensor performance assessment remains a core capability, the mission of the NREL Sensor Laboratory has expanded toward a more holistic approach regarding the role of hydrogen detection and its implementation strategy for both assurance of facility safety as well as for process control applications. Active monitoring for detection of unintended releases has been identified by the NFPA 2 Storage Task Group as a viable approach for improving facility safety and lowering setbacks. The current research program for the Sensor Laboratory addresses both conventional and advanced developing detection strategies in response to the emerging large-scale markets, such as those envisioned by H2@Scale. These emerging hydrogen applications may require alternative detection strategies that supplement and may ultimately supplant the use of traditional sensors for monitoring hydrogen releases. Research focus areas for the NREL Sensor Laboratory now encompasses the characterization of released hydrogen behavior to optimize detection strategies for both indoor and outdoor applications, advanced methods of hydrogen leak detection such as hydrogen wide area monitoring approaches for large scale and distributed applications, the incorporation of active monitoring as a risk reduction strategy to improve safety at hydrogen facilities, and continuing support of hydrogen safety codes and standards. In addition to assurance of safety, detection will be critical for process control applications, such as hydrogen fuel quality verification for fuel cell vehicle applications and for monitoring and controlling of hydrogen-natural gas blend composition.

codes and standards↗
DOE OSTI2021

Marine Energy to Hydrogen Analysis Project

2021 DOE HFTO Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting Poster covering NREL's work reviewing the current state of knowledge as related to marine renewable energy (MRE), hydrogen, and how those two technologies could be integrated for offshore and non-grid applications.

39 EE - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (EE-3F↗
DOE OSTI2018

Empirical profiling of cold hydrogen plumes formed from venting of LH 2 storage vessels

Liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ) storage is viewed as a viable approach to assure sufficient hydrogen capacity at commercial fuelling stations. Presently, LH 2 is produced at remote facilities and then transported to the end-use site by road vehicles (i.e., LH 2 tanker trucks). Venting of hydrogen to depressurize the transport storage tank is a routine part of the LH 2 delivery and site transfer process. The behavior of cold hydrogen plumes has not been well characterized because of the sparsity of empirical field data, which can lead to overly conservative safety requirements. Committee members of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 2 [1] formed the Hydrogen Storage Safety Task Group, which consists of hydrogen producers, safety experts, and computational fluid dynamics modellers, has identified the lack of understanding of hydrogen dispersion during LH 2 venting of storage vessels as a critical gap for establishing safety distances at LH 2 facilities, especially commercial hydrogen fuelling stations. To address this need, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Sensor Laboratory, in collaboration with the NFPA Hydrogen Storage Task Group, developed a prototype Cold Hydrogen Plume Analyzer to empirically characterize the hydrogen plume formed during LH 2 storage tank venting. The prototype analyzer was field deployed during an actual LH 2 venting process. Critical findings included: hydrogen above the lower flammable limit (LFL) was detected as much as 2 m lower than the release point, which is not predicted by existing models; personal monitors detected hydrogen at ground level, although at levels below the LFL; a small but inconsistent correlation was found between oxygen depletion and the hydrogen concentration; a negligible to non-existent correlation was found between in-situ temperature measurements and the hydrogen concentration. The prototype analyzer is being upgraded for enhanced metrological capabilities, including improved real-time spatial and temporal profiling of hydrogen plumes and tracking of prevailing weather conditions. Additional deployments are planned to monitor plume behavior under different wind, humidity, and temperature conditions. The data will be shared with the Hydrogen Storage Task Group and ultimately will be used support theoretical models and code requirements prescribed in NFPA 2.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2017

Hydrogen monitoring requirements in the global technical regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles

Here, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Global Technical Regulation (GTR) Number 13 ( Global Technical Regulation on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles ) is the defining document regulating safety requirements in hydrogen vehicles, and in particular, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). GTR Number 13 has been formally adopted and will serve as the basis for the national regulatory standards for FCEV safety in North America (led by the United States), Japan, Korea, and the European Union. The GTR defines safety requirements for these vehicles, including specifications on the allowable hydrogen levels in vehicle enclosures during in-use and post-crash conditions and on the allowable hydrogen emissions levels in vehicle exhaust during certain modes of normal operation. However, in order to be incorporated into national regulations, that is, to be legally binding, methods to verify compliance with the specific requirements must exist. In a collaborative program, the Sensor Laboratories at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States and the Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy and Transport in the Netherlands have been evaluating and developing analytical methods that can be used to verify compliance with the hydrogen release requirements as specified in the GTR.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Passive Leak Detection Using Commercial Hydrogen Colorimetric Indicator

Element One, Inc. (www.elem.com), a small business with in Boulder, CO, has been developing hydrogen detection technology based upon a highly selective colorimetric indicator. In its native state, the indicator pigment is a pale gray color, but becomes black upon exposure to hydrogen. The colorimetric change can be readily observed by the naked eye without the need for supplemental electronics or other hardware. Recently, the colorimetric indicator was integrated into a pliable, self-adhesive tape that can readily wrap around pneumatic fittings to serve as a hydrogen leak detector. A prototype version of the Element One indicator tape was tested within an NREL hydrogen system and successfully identified the unexpected presence of a small leak; a summary document for this case study is presented in Appendix 1. The tape was subsequently configured into 10-foot rolls as a product prototype that has just recently been commercialized and marketed under the tradename DetecTape(R). Figure 1 shows the commercial version of DetecTape along with an indicator sample in its native state and one that had been exposed to hydrogen. DetecTape is a self-adhesive silicone-based tape impregnated with a proprietary hydrogen-sensitive indicator based on transition metal oxides. A length of the tape can be cut from the roll and stretched by a factor of two or three times around a fitting. Due to the self-adhesive property of the tape, this provides a tight seal around the fitting. The seal is not hermetic, and is not intended to prevent the release of a leaking gas. However, a portion of the hydrogen leaking from a wrapped fitting will pass through the tape and react with the active indicator impregnated within the tape, thereby inducing blackening.

08 HYDROGEN↗