Analysis of trace-level impurities in hydrogen

Project Description

The performance of hydrogen fuel cells for vehicle and other applications can be strongly influenced by the presence of trace (umol/mol and nmol/mol) levels of impurities in the hydrogen fuel. ISO TC197/WG12 & WG 14 are currently drafting standards specifying the maximum levels of impurities permissible for proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications for road vehicles and stationary appliances. The international hydrogen industry therefore has a pressing need for accurate and traceable measurements of hydrogen purity.

The development of traceable methods for hydrogen purity analysis by NMIs is still at a relatively early stage. NPL and VSL have developed methods for some impurities, and are currently participating in the European FP7 HyQ project (along with Linke and Air Liquide), which will further expand these capabilities.

This proposed pilot study, which will operate towards the end of the HyQ project, will compare the analytical capabilities of labs for the measurement of selected impurities in hydrogen.

The pilot study will require the participants to measure analyse the following four mixtures, all in a matrix of hydrogen:
(a) 1 umol/mol carbon monoxide in hydrogen
(b) 100 nmol/mol carbon monoxide in hydrogen
(c) 1 umol/mol hydrogen sulphide in hydrogen
(d) A mixture of 1 umol/mol hydrogen sulphide in hydrogen. which each participant will be asked to dilute dynamically to assess their limit of detection.

Progress Report 2019-04-02

Final review and data treatment for NMIs only report / this report will be finshed by July 2019.

Progress Report 2018-04-23

Final review and data treatment for NMIs only report /
EURAMET 1220 with all partners was published as NPL report (NPL REPORT ENV 16).