It’s been quiet on the H2-Share front recently, but now the momentum is building again. Within H2-Share the German company Wystrach GmbH is commissioned to design, build and demonstrate a low energy mobile refueler. Wystrach has now unveiled its tank container (a part of the mobile refueler). Dirk Paessens, Project manager at Wystrach, gave us the following interview:
How is your company going about the building of the refueler?
“We started some time ago with an idea for a mobile refuelling station, set up in a first concept of two containers. It was as a result of our mobile refueler concept that we were asked to join the H2-Share project. We learned quickly that, while the idea for the refueler was quite good, there was still a lot of work to be done both with regards to engineering and compliance with Interreg requirements. In order to achieve this we set up a development team, which we still have today.”
Which challenges have you faced so far?
“The first challenge, was the creation of a new set-up team for the refuelling system. Then there were two main technical challenges: on the one hand fulfilling all customer needs, and on the other hand meeting all safety requirements. On top of this, Wystrach needed to further develop its existing technology in order to be able to oversee the project both now and in the future.”
What has been done so far?
“The mobile refueler has been redesigned in a way that the technology is completely integrated in two containers. One container is used as a tank container for the hydrogen logistics. The other is used as the refuelling station, which stays at the customers facility. Aspects of the design process included risk assessment, overcoming engineering challenges and dealing with the permitting process. All of the design work is now finished, the components have been ordered and the tank container has been built.”
What work is still required in order to finish the product?
“The next step is to decide which electrical and pneumatical control system can be used. That will be done in the coming days.”
How many people are working on the H2-Share project and what is their involvement?
“There are four people working on the project: a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, an accountant, and myself as project manager and engineer.”
How important is a program like Interreg NWE for you?
“It puts pressure on us to develop the system within a planned timeframe. A downside to an Interreg project is that it requires a lot of paper work which costs us a lot of time which we would prefer to spend on the engineering.”
What do you hope to gain from this project?
“We think that the mobile refueler will create a lot of opportunities for hydrogen logistics. The system could be used for testing, so that logistics companies are in the position to test the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for the future.”
What is your overall experience of the project?
“As always in life, there are two sides. Not all of the Interreg requirements make us happy. On the other hand, the project creates insight into a new market and allows us to develop a new professional network.”
Could you tell a bit more about the tank container?
“The tank container is a newly engineered swap container, developed by Wystrach. It consists of type 4 cylinders with an overall capacity of 425 kg hydrogen at a pressure of 300 bar. The tank container will be used for the storage of hydrogen for our mobile refueler.”
At the moment Wystrach is manufacturing the mobile refueler, which should be completed in September 2018. After the production time will be required for software programming and testing, system validation and commissioning.
