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The Hydrogen Project at Hamburg Airport
The project
With its self-contained traffic system, the airport is an ideal test site for the two vehicle types. Driving processes such as frequent starting up and braking, but also prolonged periods of not being in operation are a part of everyday life on the airport premises. In this context, it is important for the material and technology to be extremely durable. The Fiat Doblo, powered by hydrogen, has a range of approx. 40 km.
Natural gas and liquid gas are already being used at Hamburg Airport as low-emission fuels. In order to also start gaining practical experience concerning the daily use of vehicles powered by hydrogen technology, a hydrogen project was launched at the airport at the end of 2006. Ever since, two luggage tow tractors (model R07-25 by STILL) powered by fuel cells and a Fiat Doblo delivery truck with hydrogen combustion technology have been in operation. The project is being implemented with scientific support on the part of Hamburg-based universities and the hydrogen association “Wasserstoff-Gesellschaft Hamburg e.V.”.
The hydrogen filling station
At the hydrogen filling station, a compression process takes place within the framework of which the hydrogen pressure is raised from 200 bar to around 420 bar. This is necessary in order to be able to fill the tanks of the vehicles to maximum capacity.
The hydrogen is supplied by Linde Gas in the shape of gas bottle batches. Four batches (each of them consisting twelve 50l bottles) currently cover one and a half weeks’ demand. As the operating pressure of the fuel cell powered tractors is 350 bars versus 200 bars in the case of the Fiat Doblo, two separate hydrogen dispenser systems are available.
The entire facility is managed by a programmable logic controller, which ensures both an automated filling process and the greatest possible degree of safety.
It takes a maximum of seven minutes to fill the tanks of the vehicles.
The tow tractors
The R 07-25 series of tractors, manufactured by STILL, offer excellent conditions for changing over to hydrogen propulsion. The fuel cell is installed in the space that normally holds the traction battery.
The specifications concerning the changeover are stringent because decreases in efficiency or functional limitations as a result of modified dimensions or ground clearance are not permissible. Furthermore, the mode of operation should be identical with that of the conventional tractor series.
The task of the fuel cell is to convert the energy contained in the hydrogen within the framework of an electrochemical process, hydrogen and air are converted into water, resulting in the production of electrical energy, which is then used to power the vehicle. Apart from the residual steam, this procedure is absolutely emission-free.
The two tow tractors are mainly used for hauling luggage to and from the planes. However, their tasks also include other types of transport on the apron.
Fiat Doblo
The company EDI Progetti in Pontera, Italy, converted the engine of the mini van to a dual fuel system, which means that it can now be powered by either hydrogen or petrol. The mode of propulsion is selected manually. Whenever the Fiat runs on hydrogen, it is as emission-free as the tractors, except for a minor amount of nitrogen oxide.
Presently, the only other vehicle of its kind is to be found in Milan.
