Mar 25 2009
With the newly-signed Stimulus bill’s heavy emphasis on alternative fuels, next-generation technology developed by Linde should help accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen-powered vehicles of all kinds.
Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company, is introducing ground-breaking technology that provides a safe, fast and efficient way to fuel hydrogen vehicles. The Ionic Compressor is a compression system, which has been used extensively in Europe for cars and buses, is now being introduced to North America for fork lift trucks. Unlike conventional mechanical systems, the Ionic Compressor uses an ionic liquid in direct contact with hydrogen instead of a piston in the pressurizing process.
“The Ionic Compressor is a step change in the area of hydrogen fueling,” said Michael McGowan, head of hydrogen solutions for Linde North America. “It is a high-efficiency, high-throughput, low-maintenance and low-noise compression solution,” he said.
Coupled with Linde’s proprietary fueling protocol and advanced station design, the Ionic Compressor is part of a complete and compact compression storage and indoor dispensing solution for the hydrogen fuel cell fork lift truck market.
“We’re well beyond hydrogen-powered vehicles being a scientific curiosity,” said McGowan. “The technology Linde has developed demonstrates that fueling these vehicles is a commercial reality. And, with increased emphasis on alternative fuels in the Stimulus bill, I think we’ll see commercialization grow at a much faster pace over the next few years.”
Visit booth # 309 at the National Hydrogen Association’s 20th Annual Conference, held March 30 to April 3 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina, to discuss the latest developments for supplying and fueling hydrogen-powered vehicles, including forklifts, buses and automobiles. Linde experts, who have extensive experience in hydrogen delivery systems, will be on hand to discuss all aspects of Linde systems that have been developed over the past several years.
Linde will also introduce another high-performance hydrogen fueler to the North American market -- the HF-KTA hydrogen fueling station. This transportable system, first developed and commercialized in Europe, is easy to deploy and can efficiently supply 350 bar and 700 bar hydrogen to vehicles.
A Class 3 forklift truck, equipped with a Plug Power GenDrive power module, and a Linde dispensing system will also be at the Linde booth. The equipment is similar to that used by Linde to perform over 25,000 fuelings at large distribution centers throughout North America.
“Linde is focused on finding ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding our vehicle fueling capabilities in North America gives customers greater access to our strong hydrogen network and world-class engineering,” said McGowan. McGowan also serves as chairman of the National Hydrogen Association, the world’s largest hydrogen technology trade association.
Linde, one of the earliest entrants into the hydrogen energy arena, is a leader in the safe production, storage and distribution of hydrogen. Linde is the world’s only company with the in-house technology to fuel gaseous or liquid hydrogen regardless of the mode of on-board storage.
Linde has equipped over 70 hydrogen fueling stations in 15 countries, supplying hydrogen for projects large and small. Amounts supplied range from a few hundred cubic feet of compressed hydrogen in cylinders to thousands of tons of liquid and gaseous hydrogen delivered by tank truck or pipeline.
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 52,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.7 billion (USD 15.9 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.
Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.