Linde LLC is drawing close to completing the first retail hydrogen fueling station the company will operate in the U.S.
The station, which is expected to be online before the end of the year, is being installed at the Ramos Oil Company multi-fuel station in West Sacramento, California, where Ramos currently retails gasoline, diesel, bio-diesel, ethanol-85, methanol, and racing fuels.
At the heart of the hydrogen fueling system is the Linde IC 90 ionic compressor — the next generation of hydrogen compression technology which enables higher throughput and enhanced back to back fueling. Unlike conventional piston-operated compressors, the IC 90 works with ionic liquid.
Because these ionic liquids essentially have no vapor pressure, they do not evaporate or mix with the hydrogen gas. They also eliminate mechanical wear-and-tear and sealing problems inside the cylinders.
Linde is handling the design and fabrication of the Linde 900 bar Ionic Compressor. In addition, several companies will also be involved in the hydrogen station installation: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide for the dispensing system; FIBA Technologies will supply some of the hydrogen gas storage tubes; and Chart Industries will supply the hydrogen storage tank.
Linde has equipped over 90 fueling stations in 15 countries with innovative hydrogen refueling technology, supporting fuel cell cars, buses, forklifts and other uses.
“We are very excited to be working with Ramos Oil on this project,” said Nitin Natesan, business development manager for Linde Hydrogen Fueling. “This high throughput retail station is a very significant step forward in the commercialization of hydrogen-fueled cars,” said Natesan.
Natesan said, “While the acceptance of Linde technology for hydrogen fueled vehicles is advancing at a fast pace in Europe, we’re now getting a real foothold in the U.S., with California leading the way.”
Recently, the California Energy Commission, which supports this project, announced that it is providing funding for a significant number of additional retail stations throughout the state. Linde received funding for two of the stations — in Oakland and San Ramon, California – to go along with the five previous station awards Linde has received. Linde has also built and is operating two hydrogen fueling stations for California’s AC Transit to fuel 12 hydrogen fuel cell buses in Emeryville and Oakland.
