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Mechanical Technology — June 2015
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Innovative engineering
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development partnerships
A view of the 5.0 kW hydrogen fuel
cell plant at Mvuzo Junior Secondary in
Cofimvaba.
Above:
Learners from Mvuzo Junior Secondary show off
the tablets that are now being widely used in the school’s
education programme.
Left:
The fuel cell itself (middle shelf) occupies less than
a quarter of the cabinet space. The unit consists of 50
single 0.7 V cells that can each deliver 110 A. The peak
power output from the inverter (top shelf) is 5.0 kW.
parts makes it easy to identify and isolate
problems. This allows us to use the ICT
staff in the schools to do first line main-
tenance,” he reports.
The remote monitoring system is
also used by Air Products to ensure that
the hydrogen gas supply never runs
out. Currently, the three pilot schools in
Cofimvaba are being serviced together.
Once the first bank of seven hydrogen cyl-
inders is depleted at any of the schools,
that school is immediately switched over
to the second bank of cylinders. At the
same time, the other two schools are
switched to using fuel cell power instead
of grid power, to deplete their first bank
of hydrogen cylinders. All three schools
are then simultaneously supplied from Air
Products’ Port Elizabeth branch.
“Fuel cell backup power solutions are
efficient, reliable, safe and, most impor-
tantly, quiet, ensuring a non-intrusive
standby,” says Coetzer, adding that in
some areas without gird connectivity,
they can also be feasible for primary
power solutions.
“And there is nothing valuable to
steal. People steal PV panels, because
they can use the panels and the batter-
ies. We don’t use copper, the platinum
we do use has no value, the hydrogen
cylinders are heavy (70 kg per cylinder),
dangerous and not in general use. Our
experience at cell phone towers tells us
that fuel cells, although more expensive
than generators, are actually a better op-
tion because of the lower risk of potential
theft,” he says.
Air Products’ hydrogen capability
As a pilot project, Air Products chose
to be involved in this project for two
reasons: first, the project is in line with
its corporate social investment (CSI) pro-
gramme, which is focused on sustainable
ways of improving educational facilities
in disadvantaged communities.
Second, the company sees long-term
value in this project as a means of gaining
a better understanding of local needs in
order to develop and grow the hydrogen
fuel cell market in South Africa. To this
end, Air Products has been working
closely with Clean Energy Investments
and Anglo American Platinum to develop
the hydrogen economy in South Africa.
The success of hydrogen fuel cell
technology hinges on an economically
viable system of hydrogen supply and
distribution, not only in the CSI context
but also within a commercial context. Air
Products South Africa is committed to
working alongside other stakeholders to
develop a hydrogen distribution solution
that is both scalable and economical for
the end-user.
Globally, according to Mike Hellyar,
MD of Air Products South Africa, Air
Products is at the forefront of hydrogen fu-
elling technology, providing the infrastruc-
ture for the ‘hydrogen road’ in California.
Air Products has been chosen as the tech-
nology supplier for FirstElement Fuel’s
initial network of 19 hydrogen-fuelling
stations throughout California.
In South Africa, Air Products, in
partnership with Sasol, has the capac-
ity to reform 12 t/day of hydrogen from
methane-rich gas mixtures. Most of the
hydrogen produced is used in the plati-
num refining process, but the company
has significant volumes of additional
capacity, ideal for use in a hydrogen
economy of the future.
“We believe that hydrogen technology
holds the key to a sustainable future,”
says Air Products’ Sizwe Nkonde –
general manager of Packaged Gases.
“Implementing new, cutting-edge tech-
nology means replacing the old ways of
doing things, and what better place to
start than with our youth?” he asks in
his launch presentation.
Says Pandor: “The knowledge and
experience gained from the Cofimvaba
pilot project and others taking place
throughout the country will not only
promote awareness of the technology,
but will assist in creating a market for
technologies that are being developed
through the Hydrogen South Africa
(HySA) Programme.”
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