Hydrogen Refueling Station Introduction

A hydrogen refueling station is a special place for filling hydrogen fuel into hydrogen storage tanks for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen internal combustion engine  vehicles, or hydrogen and natural gas hybrid fuel vehicles.

1. According to the construction method: mobile hydrogen refueling station (skid-mounted station), fixed hydrogen refueling station.

1.1. Mobile hydrogen refueling station:
Short construction period, small land occupation, temporary, demonstration and self-use.

1.2. Fixed hydrogen refueling station:

2.According to storage methods: high-pressure gaseous hydrogenation station, liquid hydrogenation station, solid hydrogen storage station
2.1. High-pressure gaseous hydrogenation station
High-pressure gaseous hydrogenation station is an important infrastructure for large-scale application of hydrogen energy in the transportation field. It is mainly used to fill hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles and is an important link in  the development of the hydrogen energy industry. High-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage technology is the most mature and widely used hydrogen energy storage and transportation technology at present. It has the advantages of simple equipment structure, low energy consumption for compressed hydrogen preparation, fast filling and discharge speed, and wide temperature adaptability.
At present, there are two main pressure requirements for hydrogenation stations: one is a hydrogenation station that meets the 35MPa hydrogenation requirement, and the other is a hydrogenation station that meets the 70MPa hydrogenation requirement. The domestic pressure is mainly 35MPa (35MPa for buses and logistics vehicles), while the foreign pressure is mainly 70MPa (70MPa for commercial vehicles).

2.2. Liquid hydrogen refueling station
Liquid hydrogen refueling station: Liquid hydrogen refueling station is a refueling station that uses liquid hydrogen as energy. Compared with traditional gaseous refueling stations, it has higher hydrogen storage density and efficiency. At present, there are more than 120 liquid hydrogen refueling stations in the world, of which the longest has been in operation for more than 10 years. The main advantage of liquid hydrogen refueling stations lies in their high-density, high-quality storage and transportation and hydrogenation methods, high purity, high hydrogenation efficiency, suitable for large-scale storage and transportation, and has significant economies of scale.

2.3. Solid-state hydrogen storage
Solid-state hydrogen storage and refueling station is a facility that uses solid-state metal hydrogen storage technology for hydrogen storage and refueling. This technology stores hydrogen atoms in metal materials through chemical reactions between hydrogen and alloys to form solid hydrides. When hydrogen is needed, hydrogen is released by raising the ambient temperature. Solid-state hydrogen storage technology has the characteristics of high volume hydrogen storage density, low hydrogen filling and discharge pressure,  good safety, and can be stored for a long period across seasons.
The application of solid-state hydrogen storage technology in the field of hydrogen refueling stations is of great significance. It can not only improve hydrogen storage  efficiency and safety, but also reduce construction costs.

3. According to the hydrogen supply method: off-site hydrogen supply, on-site hydrogen production,
3.1. Off-site hydrogen supply hydrogen refueling station
This type of hydrogen refueling station does not contain hydrogen production equipment. Hydrogen is transported from the hydrogen production  plant to the hydrogen refueling station via a long tube trailer, liquid hydrogen tank truck or hydrogen pipeline. In the hydrogen refueling station, hydrogen is compressed by a compressor and stored in a high-pressure hydrogen storage bottle group, and then hydrogen is refilled into the fuel cell vehicle through a hydrogen refueling machine. At present, most of China's hydrogen refueling stations use this method, mainly because this method can reduce the intermediate storage and transportation links, thereby reducing the cost of hydrogen use.

3.2. On-site hydrogen production and refueling station:
The hydrogen refueling station is equipped with a hydrogen production system that can produce hydrogen directly on site. Hydrogen production technologies include water electrolysis, natural gas reforming, methanol, liquid ammonia, biomass, etc. The produced hydrogen is purified, compressed, stored and refueled. This method can effectively solve the high cost and safety risks caused by hydrogen storage and transportation, and can be used as a hydrogen refueling station to supply hydrogen to surrounding hydrogen refueling stations, helping to solve the gas supply problem in "hydrogen shortage" areas.

4. According to the type of station construction: pure hydrogen station, combined station, combined station (by medium) has oil hydrogen, oil gas  hydrogen, hydrogen electricity and other combinations.
4.1. Pure hydrogen station
Pure hydrogen station refers to a station dedicated to storing and providing pure hydrogen, mainly serving hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, providing them with efficient and clean energy supply. This type of station focuses on the supply of hydrogen energy, which is different from other hybrid energy supply stations, ensuring the high purity and safety of hydrogen to meet the strict requirements of fuel cells for hydrogen quality. This type of station has a single business and is subject to the number of hydrogen refueling vehicles. At present, the driving of hydrogen vehicles mainly relies on government subsidies, and pure hydrogen stations can only rely on government subsidies. Therefore, from an economic point of view, the profitability  is the worst. Foshan, where there are many domestic stations, was mostly this kind of single hydrogen refueling station in the early days, and is currently basically in a loss-making and closed state.

4.2. Combined hydrogen station
Combined station, full name integrated energy supply station, refers to a facility that combines multiple energy supply services at the same station, usually including but not limited to traditional gasoline and diesel supply, electric vehicle charging services, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle refueling services. The design concept of the combined station is to improve the convenience and efficiency of energy supply, meet the energy needs of different types of vehicles, and optimize the use of land resources.