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ISO TC-197 Update
by Karen Miller, National Hydrogen Association
The National Hydrogen Association held a Hydrogen Safety, Codes and Standards Workshop on Friday May 30 at the University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center in Adelphi, Maryland. 37 persons participated.
The Workshop was sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies, Air Products and Chemicals, and General Motors.
Karen Miller welcomed participants and thanked the sponsors. She then described the need for industry consensus standards in hydrogen energy technologies, and the NHA’s role in facilitating the development of needed standards. The NHA has a diverse group of members, including fuel cell and electrolyser developers, automotive manufacturers, energy providers, universities and research organizations, industrial gas suppliers, and many others. All are dedicated to commercializing hydrogen energy systems. The development of codes and standards removes significant barriers to commercialization.
Ms. Miller then described the process the NHA uses to determine which activities to work on. The NHA polls its members on what they perceive to be the issues of highest priority in the 2-5 year time frame. In other words, the NHA’s members choose what will be worked on. Through this process the NHA is able to determine if any hydrogen safety issues are being overlooked. Utilizing the breadth of knowledge contained within the membership allows the NHA to develop a draft document with appropriate technical merit that can be advance through larger standards organizations.
The main objective of the NHA C&S Process is to identify area where codes and standards for the safe use of hydrogen energy systems are needed. The NHA would like to be a coordinator in this process. Only when hydrogen safety issues are not being properly addresses is when the NHA would want to initiate new standard. Collaboration with other groups such as ISO TC-197, IEC TC-105, NFPA, ICC, SAE and others is preferred. Therefore, many NHA Codes and Standards working groups are formed to coordinate with these SDOs, and provide a forum for the hydrogen community to provide technical assistance to their activities. In this way, NHA members can be kept updated on developments without necessarily participating in the SDO activities directly, and the NHA can enable the SDOs access to a broader array of technical data and experts to enable the smooth development of the codes and standards as they pertain to hydrogen energy systems.
The NHA holds two Hydrogen Safety, Codes and Standards Workshops annually. Each is unique. The purpose of this workshop is to update the hydrogen community at large about ongoing efforts to develop hydrogen codes and standards, discuss technical issues, and provide opportunities for workshop participants to provide input to the standard development organizations (SDOs) that are developing codes and standards.
Ms. Miller reminded participants that the NHA welcomes participation from a broad array of experts in the Codes & Standards Committee, and NHA membership is not required to contribute to developing consensus standards. Anyone with an interest in an NHA work item may participate in the working group. Each working group should have a Chairman, who is preferably an NHA member or senior staff person to facilitate reporting requirements to the NHA Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Ms. Miller then explained the responsibilities of working groups, so that participants know what is expected. She then gave participants an opportunity to sign up for new working groups.
Working groups exchange emails and hold conference calls, and occasionally meet in person, in conjunction with a related meeting. For example, working groups may meet during future NHA C&S Workshops, and/or other times as necessary. The schedule is set by the working group, based on need and availability of information required to advance a work item.
The NHA requests that each new working group develop and report its Scope and Next Steps by August 15, 2003.
Working Group status is reported during NHA C&S Workshops, and monthly by email to staff. NHA staff will help arrange conference calls, and provide working groups meeting space at NHA meetings on request.
New Working Groups
Ms. Miller then described the NHA’s new working groups, and asked participants to indicate their interest in participating. She also invited participants to suggest other stakeholders who may have an interest in the activity. Staff will follow up with these stakeholders and invite them to join the working group, or provide assistance to the working group.
WG8: National and International Regulations for Hydrogen Storage
Navigate various National and International regulations (DOT, etc.) for Hydrogen storage technologies - including on-board vs. off-board applications.
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Jim Ohi, NREL (Chairman) |
Charlie H (DOT) |
| Harry Jones, UL |
Charles Ke (DOT) |
| Bill Chernicoff (DOT) |
UN |
| Ned Stetson (Texaco Ovonics) |
USFCC |
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ICC |
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NFPA |
Ned Stetson briefed the group on existing efforts regarding metal hydrides, and suggested that there are other resources for this working group to draw upon as well.
Bill Chernicoff described the DOT process and departments that this group can consider in the development of this work item.
| Experience to draw upon |
Possible next steps |
| Lithium battery |
Early meeting with DOT |
| Other fuels for fuel cells |
Develop a matrix of regulations |
| Metal Hydrides |
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| Methanol for Aircraft (UL, DOT, USFCC) |
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WG 9: Analyze Impacts of Draft Global Technical Regulations
The European Union is developing global technical regulations for hydrogen vehicles. Through a UN committee, the US and other non-European countries have opportunities to comment. The UN may adopt these as Global Technical Regulations. How would this impact U.S. companies? How would it be implemented in the US?
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Karen Miller, NHA (Chairman) |
Martin Koubek, DOT |
| Jay Laskin |
Ken F., EPA |
| John Koehr, ASME International |
Dept. of Commerce |
| Liz Pfeiffer, BMW |
SAE |
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Int'l. Hydrogen Infrastructure Group |
Bob Mauro offered to be a resource to this working group.
WG 10: Support DER Road Show
NHA has already prepared a training module on hydrogen for this purpose. Activity would include participation in Road Shows that request hydrogen training to present the module, and arrange hardware demonstrations from members in Road Shows locations near member companies.
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Russell Hewett, NREL (Chairman) |
Fuel Cell companies |
| Thomas Maloney, Proton Energy Systems |
Electrolyser companies |
| Ned Stetson, Texaco Ovonics |
Other H2 hardware manufacturers |
| Liz Pfeiffer, BMW |
Car companies |
| Jay Laskin |
Anne-Marie Borbely-Bartis, DOE/PNL |
WG 11: CSA support of NGV revisions for H2 tanks
CSA has invited the NHA to provide additional names to add to the list for potential members of the TAG to develop the NGV2 standard to address hydrogen on-board vehicle storage cylinders.
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Russell Hewett, NREL (Acting Chair) |
NGVC |
| Bill Chernicoff, DOT |
Tank Manufacturers |
| Wayne Doversberger, UL |
Jay Keller, Sandia |
| Carl Rivkin, NFPA |
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| Charles Stahl, Texaco Ovonics |
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| Hank Seiff, NGVC |
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Hank Seiff briefed the group on the existing CSA America effort to develop hydrogen storage cylinders from the CNGV experience. Issues to consider include PRDs.
Permanent Chairman TBD
WG 12: Portable power coordination
Work with contacts at DOD and DOT involved in fuel cell activities to facilitate safety, C&S information transfer in both directions. Begin to develop test requirements for safety and performance.
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Harry Jones, UL (Chairman) |
NFPA |
| George Chirdon, CSA International |
CGA |
| Ned Stetson, Texaco Ovonics |
NASA White Sands Test Facility |
| John Koehr, ASME International |
Jay Keller, Sandia |
| Debbie Angerman, CGA |
LLNL |
| Carl Rivkin, NFPA |
SRTC |
| Bill Chernicoff, DOT |
ASME |
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CSA (FC3) |
Scope: Safety and Performance
WG 13: Support NFPA Hydrogen Coordinating Group
Review NEC and other NFPA documents to determine if there are any issues regarding hydrogen safety and developing C&S activities for hydrogen system components.
Are proposals for changes warranted?
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Ned Stetson, Texaco Ovonics (Acting Chair) |
Addison Bain |
| Carl Rivkin (NFPA) |
Energy Companies |
| Russell Hewett, NREL |
Industrial Gas Suppliers |
| Harry Jones, UL |
H2 Generation equip. manufacturers |
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Project Developers |
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Fuel Cell Manufacturers |
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ASME |
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ICC |
Carl Rivkin, NFPA, briefed the group on the NFPA’s activities to modify NFPA standards to include hydrogen energy technologies. Issues: Proposals to this round of NFPA code changes are due from the public on June 27. Proposals from the Committee are due August 18-20. One area identified as a gap is industrial piping.
Permanent Chairman TBD
WG14: Continue ongoing coordination activities with SDOs, others
(Continue to provide hydrogen safety expertise to SAE and USFCC working groups, DOE Hydrogen C&S Coordinating Committee, and other efforts as appropriate.) A few of the groups currently of interest are listed below:
UL
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Harry Jones, UL |
DOT |
| Jim Ohi, NREL |
TSA, FAA, Airline industry |
| Hank Seiff, NGVC |
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ASME
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| John Koehr, ASME |
API |
| Debbie Angerman, CGA |
SDOs |
| Jim Ohi, NREL |
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| George Rawls, SRTC |
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| Bill Collins, UTC |
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| Charles Stahl, Texaco Ovonics |
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John Koehr, ASME, briefed the group about the ASME activities in hydrogen. ASME has created task groups in the following areas: hydrogen piping and pipelines; small portable hydrogen tanks; and hydrogen storage and transport tanks.
This working group will coordinate with ASME and these task forces. Current members of the task forces are encouraged to consider WG 14 as a resource for their efforts.
SAE
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Bill Chernicoff, DOT |
Addison Bain |
| Glenn Scheffler, UTC Fuel Cells |
CGA (Product Spec. Std.) |
| Steve Melancon, Entergy Nuclear |
Fuel Cell developers |
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Energy Companies |
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Industrial Gas Suppliers |
Issue: This activity is of particular interest to the NHA because SAE is planning to begin to develop a hydrogen purity specification for use in fuel cell vehicles. As ISO TC 197 has a hydrogen purity specification for alkaline fuel cells which could be modified for this purpose, and CGA has a similar activity underway, it is important to understand the actual need, and coordinate with stakeholders to develop the most appropriate standard(s).
USFCC
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| John Donahue, UTC |
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| Russell Hewett, NREL |
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CaFCP
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Jim Ohi, NREL |
State Initiatives |
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CaFCP members |
HCSCC
| Working Group Members |
Other Stakeholders |
| Carl Rivkin (NFPA) |
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| Hank Seiff (NGVC) |
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| John Donahue (UTC Fuel Cells) |
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| John Koehr (ASME International) |
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| Robert Mauro (Consultant to NREL and DOE/HQ) |
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| Bill Chernicoff (Volpe Center, USDOT) |
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| Jim Ohi (NREL) |
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| Russ Hewett (NREL) |
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Next Steps
Each new working group is asked to hold a meeting in person or via conference call in order to determine the formal scope of their work item, and identify next steps for the working group, with a proposed timetable. Working groups without Chairmen are requested to identify permanent Chairmen as soon as possible. Chairmen and acting Chairmen are encouraged to open up participation in these new working groups to other members of the hydrogen community as well as other stakeholders. A report from each working group is due to NHA staff (Karen Miller) no later than August 15.
Ms. Miller then announced the next NHA Hydrogen Safety Codes and Standards Workshop will be held September 22-23, 2003 at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Working groups that wish to meet in conjunction with this workshop to advance their work items are encouraged to contact Karen Miller or Patrick Serfass as soon as possible. All working groups will be asked to present their scopes, next steps, and progress to date.
There is significant interest in the development of C&S for Hydrogen Energy Systems
NHA will continue to provide technical expertise and keep members informed. Participants were reminded of the NHA’s free on-line newsletter- The Hydrogen Safety Report www.hydrogensafety.info. Workshop proceedings will be included with the June edition.
Ms. Miller thanked the participants and the workshop sponsors, the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies; Air Products and Chemicals; and General Motors.
The ½ day workshop concluded with a ride-and-drive demonstration of General Motors' HydroGen3. GM, a sponsor for the workshop, made available their fuel cell powered minivan for driving opportunities around the conference facilities and neighboring streets. The H3, as it is commonly called, is based on the Opel Zafira minivan and sports a 95 kW fuel cell engine fueled with liquid hydrogen. The 4.6 kilogram tank gives the H3 a range of approximately 250 miles on the highway.
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