Effective Cylinder Testing Led to DOT Exemption for Air
Cargo Transport
Barbara Van Fleet, Jadoo Power
Background
Fuel cells generate electrical energy directly through
the use of hydrogen gas. This is accomplished cleanly and efficiently without
emitting any hazardous substances. Though fuel cells have been in existence for
over a hundred years, commercially viable power systems have only recently become
a reality. The four major areas of fuel cell application are: transportation,
stationary portable and micro. The major challenge for all these segments is expansion
of the infrastructure that can support the demand applications - all but portable,
where the infrastructure exists and is in use now. The Portable segment is the
largest user base of fuel cell technology today for this reason.
End user
requirements, including safety, usability and portability, were foremost in the
development of the NABII portable fuel cell and its industry standard N-Stor fuel
canisters. Jadoo's N-Stor fuel canister stores hydrogen absorbed in a metal hydride
powder. This storage method allows three times the hydrogen storage volumetrically
as typical compressed gas storage. As this type of storage system is relatively
new, regulations for transportation and safety are being developed in parallel
to sales of the technology.
 Testing
The
N-Stor is a total "system-level" approach to ensuring safety during
use and transport. Extensive tests of the storage system components including;
the cylinder the valve and the thermal relief device, as well as the total system
were required. Tests to confirm the durability of the cylinder, as defined in
49 CFR included bursting to destruction, cycling, and flattening. Testing of the
thermal relief device is also specified by 49 CFR, including verification of activation
temperature, extrusion tests and leak tests. Bonfire testing was also conducted
to verify that the device would successfully protect the canister. The valve tests
included operation over extreme temperature ranges, cycling and burst testing.
The successful completion of these test allowed Jadoo to receive the first DOT
exemption for air cargo transport ever awarded for a hydrogen fuel canister system.
In
conjunction with the tests required to prove safe transportability, Jadoo conducted
a series of non-compulsory tests to further validate the durability and safety
of the N-Stor. Drop and crush testing as well as "projectile testing"
was performed on the N-Stor fuel canister.
Jadoo is also working with such
other agencies as the National Association of State Fire Marshals in order to
pass on information that will help others in the push to rollout the safest and
most cost-effective hydrogen economy today.
For more information, please
contact Jadoo at 916.608.9044 or www.jadoopower.com
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