Refuelling tests of a hydrogen tank for heavy-duty applications

A transition towards zero-emission fuels is required in the mobility sector in order to reach the climate goals. Here (green) renewable hydrogen for use in fuel cells will play an important role, especially for heavy duty applications such as trucks. However, there are still challenges to overcome regarding efficient storage, infrastructure integration and optimization of the refuelling process. A key aspect is to reduce the refuelling duration as much as possible, while staying below the maximum allowed temperature of 85 °C. Experimental tests for the refuelling of a 320 l type III tank were conducted at different operating conditions and the tank gas temperature measured at the front and back ends. The results indicate a strongly inhomogeneous temperature field, where measuring and verifying the actual maximum temperatures proves difficult. Furthermore, a simulation approach is provided to calculate the average tank gas temperature at the end of the refuelling process.