Inline hydrogen loss of containment detection

The HyLOCD project aimed to do research and development of a hydrogen loss of containment detection method for maritime fuel cell systems. The HyLOCD project has developed models for hydrogen behavior in the whole fuel cell system including the delivery system. Experimental results of hydrogen behavior in a real fuel cell system have been be produced and used for validation of the developed models. The detection method has been developed from industrial research and used of the developed models. The method has been the basis for mitigation strategy for loss of containment and safety philosophy for the system. The HyLOCD project has been part of the H2NOR project to commercialize large scale modular maritime fuel cell systems. The project started October 1st 2021 and was closed December 31st 2024.

Resultater fra HyLOCD prosjektet har blitt brukt som underlag for sikkerhetskonseptet som Corvus Energy og partnere har utviklet frem i H2NOR prosjektet og som har blitt implementert i Corvus Energy sitt Pelican Fuel Cell System. Videre har modell for lekkasjedeteksjon blitt laget og validert mot en test-rigg som ble laget i HyLOCD prosjektet. Forsøk og resultater er publisert i rapporter og artikler som er tilgjengelige i Cristin.

There are three main innovations in H2NOR which will be realized in the project: 1) maritime fuel cell (FC) systems developed for scalable production and deployment, 2) a combined fuel cell and battery management system (FCBMS), and 3) inline real time detection of hydrogen loss of containment (HyLOCD). Safety management is an integral part of hydrogen fuel cells. The research proposed and applied funding for in HyLOCD will directly impact both the physical design and the FCBMS. Sensor placement, knowledge about hydrogen behavior, barrier strategies, are factors which will impact the product design and ultimately the ability to deploy at scale in the industry. The industrial research proposed in this project will lead to safer maritime hydrogen fuel cell systems. The innovation in HyLOCD is a safety system for maritime fuel cells where the loss of containment of hydrogen from the system will be detected by inline sensors. This innovation will lead to earlier detection of potential leaks and knowledge of leak position to facilitate a better and safer system response. A product of the research project is a mathematical system model that can be used for system optimization for specific load profiles during design and operation.