Across the transportation and industrial sectors, hydrogen fuel cell technology is playing an important role in creating sustainable and energy-efficient vehicles and fleets. Hydrogen-powered vehicle engines are clean burning and can be operated for an entire shift before refilling is required. And, refueling a fuel cell takes only minutes. But in order to realize these benefits, the gas must be transported over long distances safely, reliably and efficiently.

Hydrogen storage tanks are often located hundreds to thousands of feet away from the dispensers that fuel the waiting electric vehicles or forklifts. When running tubing over long those distances, a lot can go wrong.

• Defects. High-pressures and long-distance installations require many orbital or longitudinal welds or fittings which raise the potential for leak points and failures.
• Corrosion. Factors as diverse as the environment, handling and installation, welds or selecting the wrong alloy for the tube can cause corrosion.
• Impaired flow. Tube fittings add friction to the system, interrupting flow and reducing efficiency.
• Installation inefficiencies. Joining short lengths of tubing over long distances is time consuming and presents significant labor and material costs.

Despite advances in welding technology, conventional tubing solutions with welds or fittings cannot be buried underground, and the lines normally overhead must include safe zones on each tube joint. Fortunately, coiled tubing from HandyTube virtually eliminates these challenges. For hydrogen fuel-based electric vehicle fleets and fueling facilities, that means better safety plus time and cost savings to go along with the benefits hydrogen technology has to offer. Here’s how:

HandyTube uses seamless nickel alloy and stainless steel hollows to produce the longest seamless coils available without welded raw materials, in-process welds or welds at finish. This allows for long-length tubing — even over hundreds of feet — that can handle pressures up to 14,500 psi, is not susceptible to failure and can be installed quickly and safely. Many corrosion-resistant materials are available. Seam-free, long-length tubing provides safe interconnections of remote hydrogen storage tanks and dispensers with only two connections in each tube run; one at the source and one at the dispenser. A special tool de-coils and straightens the tubing, and benders make it easy to lay the uncoiled tubing in a conduit or run it up a building to connect the tank to the dispenser.

Get the Most Benefit From Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

When it comes to energy efficiency, low emissions, fast refueling and environmental benefits for your mobility, material handling and fuel dispensing operations, hydrogen fuel cell technology is hard to beat. When selecting tubing for hydrogen fuel delivery, be sure to choose a tube product that can handle the pressure and harsh conditions that can occur over long distances while providing safety, reliability and efficiency. Coiled tubing from HandyTube solves many of the problems associated with joining sticks of conventional tubing over long distances, ensuring you can get the most benefit from hydrogen fuel cell technology without any unpleasant surprises.

For more information about HandyTube coil tubing for hydrogen fuel cell operations, visit our industry page.