Engineers from Daimler Truck and Linde Engineering have collaborated to develop sLH2, a new process for handling subcooled liquid hydrogen. This innovative approach offers benefits such as higher storage density, increased range, faster refueling, lower costs, and improved energy efficiency.
The inaugural of the first public sLH2 pilot station took place on February 7th in Wörth am Rhein.
Refueling with sLH2 takes around ten to fifteen minutes for a 40-ton heavy-duty truck, carrying 80 kg of liquid hydrogen for a range of 1,000 kilometers and more. At the same time, the new technology lowers the required investment for a hydrogen refueling station by a factor of two to three, and operational costs are five to six times lower.
Compared to regular liquid hydrogen (LH2) refueling technology, the new process uses a new sLH2 pump to slightly increase the pressure of the liquid hydrogen. With this method, the hydrogen becomes subcooled liquid hydrogen (sLH2). Hydrogen in this state, facilitates a very robust fueling process that also keeps energy losses during refueling to a minimum. Furthermore, no data transmission between the refueling station and vehicle is necessary, which further reduces the complexity of the solution. At the same time, refueling capacity is increased to new levels.
The pilot refueling station has a capacity of 400 kg of liquid hydrogen per hour. In comparison to regular liquid or gaseous hydrogen refueling concepts, sLH2 is considerably simpler while delivering increased performance.
Both companies aim to establish sLH2 as a universal refueling standard for hydrogen-powered trucks. The technology is openly accessible to interested parties through an ISO standard.
"In terms of hydrogen infrastructure, we are reaching a major milestone today: With sLH2, hydrogen refueling becomes as convenient as today’s refueling with diesel. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to fuel our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck for a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. We now call on other OEMs and infrastructure companies to follow our approach and jointly make this technology an industry standard.” - said Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG.
Source: Daimler Truck
