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.
Posted March 24th, 2009
