The NREL Sensor Laboratory: Hydrogen Detection in Support of H2@Scale Applications

Since 2008, the NREL sensor laboratory played an active role in advancing hydrogen detection and safety systems for hydrogen applications. The traditional focus of the lab centered around the metrological performance targets for hydrogen point sensors as set by the DOE in 2007 and updated in 2012. While the lab continues to be a vital resource in this area, the expansion of hydrogen in larger scale applications as envisioned by H2@Scale leads to new challenges for detection. To address these challenges, the NREL sensor lab is expanding its capabilities and research focus areas into advanced detection and monitoring strategies for safety, environmental, and process applications.

The NREL Sensor Lab has been expanding capabilities in anticipation of new detection requirements. The Leak-on-Demand Apparatus can generate a controlled outdoor leak that can be used to validate the effectiveness of emerging detection methods in a real-world scenario. The Process Gas Characterization Apparatus provides a means to characterize process line monitoring of gaseous fuels including impurity sensors. The NREL Hydrogen Infrastructure Testing and Research Facility (HITRF) is a fully functional hydrogen research facility that includes hydrogen production, storage, handling, and dispensing capability and was recently upgraded to accommodate high throughput. The upcoming Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) installation at NREL will provide a large-scale platform for integrating advanced detection systems including wide area monitoring and standoff methodologies. The NREL Hydrogen Safety Research and Development team is ensuring detection will be ready for emerging H2@Scale Markets.