First Week-Long Training Course Dedicated to Hydrogen Storage
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

The University of Applied Sciences in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, held a week-long training course from 25-29 September 2006, called STORHY Train-IN 2006. At the course, approximately 60 students from all over the world learned about state-of-the-art hydrogen storage, including pressure vessels, cryogenic storage, solid storage, safety aspects, and applications.

The course focused on automotive applications, and included demonstrations of model cars, including the award-winning Hyracer - the world’s smallest car running with a hydrogen combustion engine. It is a 1:8 scale model of the BMW record car H2R which set up numerous records for hydrogen-powered cars, including maximum speed (Guiness Book of World Record 2005). The Hyracer was developed at the University of Applied Sciences Ingolstadt by students and research assistants. Gaseous Hydrogen is stored pressurized in aluminum cylinders and runs a four stroke combustion engine. Challenges in the development were cooling the engine, an ignition system for the combustion process and meeting safety requirements. This model car demonstrates the next generation automotive technology on a small scale.

The course combined theoretical and practical experiences, brilliantly led by key staff from the University of Applied Sciences and augmented with over twenty guest presentations from industry leaders. The course was organized by Prochain e.V.

STORHY is an integrated project within the European Union Framework 6 Programme that relates to hydrogen storage systems for automotive applications.

StorHy - General Project Information
“Hydrogen Storage Systems for Automotive Application”

Coordinator: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
Time frame: 2004 – 2008 (4,5 years)
Official project start: March 1, 2004
Budget: € 18.7 m
EU contribution: € 10.7 m
Website: www.storhy.net
34 partners from 13 European countries
(5 OEMs, 15 research institutes and 14 supplier companies)

And if that weren’t enough, the course included an active social program, providing opportunities to simultaneously enjoy the hospitality of Ingolstadt (as well as a visit to Munich for Octoberfest) and network with fellow students and presenters.

The course presented a viable model for hydrogen energy coursework that should undoubtedly be repeated.

For additional information, please visit www.storhy.net.