Scope Issues within ISO/TC WG13 Hydrogen Detectors
Andrei V. Tchouvelev, A.V. Tchouvelev & Associates Inc.

ISO/TC 197 WG13 Hydrogen Detectors met in Vancouver on October 31 – November 1 to discuss outstanding issues to date and finalize the text of its first Committee Draft (CD) international standard.

A key outstanding issue that was on the meeting agenda was the final definition of and agreement on scope. The Technical Committee, during its plenary meeting in Paris last June, gave a direct instruction to the Working Group to finalize and articulate a scope that would address issues raised in the Plenary, including the need to concentrate on hydrogen refuelling stations without excluding other stationary applications. Considering the debate and suggestions voiced out at the plenary meeting, I was asked by the WG leadership to share my views in this regard with the Working Group members and, thus, assist in resolving this issue. The information in this article, therefore, contains my views, and not necessarily those of the WG13.

My presentation highlighted a few important aspects that should be taken into account from the prospective of scope.

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First, the scope should be tightly related to the scope of the Gaseous Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Draft Technical Specification (DTS) that is being developed by the ISO/TC 197 WG11. This DTS covers on-site hydrogen generation by electrolysis and reformer technology, hydrogen purification, compression, storage and dispensing to vehicles (with the scope ending at the dispenser nozzle). Hydrogen vaporization from liquid is also part of the scope of the DTS. This means the future standard should be able to “cover” all components of a hydrogen refuelling station listed above.

Second, the normative references of the above DTS as well as Draft International Standards (DIS) for both electrolysers and reformers are calling for IEC 61779 group of standards (namely -1, -4 and -6) to refer to hydrogen detectors. This indicates that these standards anticipate the use of single level detection method. It is fully anticipated that once WG13 document is published it will replace the IEC standard in the normative references. This in turn means that the future standard should not only consider multilevel detection but also should include single level detection. It was pointed out that there is no principal difference between single and multilevel detection; the real key is detection of and monitoring hydrogen concentrations, while the number of set points does not affect a detection apparatus performance.

Third, since the future standard intends to cover only test methods and performance requirements, it is important to link it with the existing IEC 61779-6 standard that regulates selection, installation, use and maintenance of hydrogen detection apparatus.

Fourth, the scope should ensure that other stationary applications that might have similar performance requirements are not excluded. Examples could include variety of underground parking garages, vehicle maintenance facilities, fuel cell stationary units located indoors, etc.

The revised text of the future CD takes all of the above points into account. I personally believe that the revised document adequately reflects the direction of the TC regarding the scope.

In summary the meeting was very interesting and productive. I’d like to express my gratitude to the WG convenor Dr. Ichiro Matsubara and the WG secretary Ms. Yuko Yasutake for inviting me to join the WG13 membership (which I did) and giving me the opportunity to express my views. The group displayed strong focus and intention to continue the international standard development as per ISO schedule. The convenor plans to release the CD for comments to ISO/TC 197 P-members by the end of November 2006.

Last but not least, many thanks to NRC Centre for Fuel Cell Innovation (see below) and Ballard for their hospitality in arranging the meeting space and very interesting technical tours, and, of course, to Ms. Yuko Yasutake, for helping us all out-of-town experts with the meeting logistics.