Hydrogen Fuel Purity Verification Could See a New Standard

A new ASTM International test method would cover how gas chromatography and pulse discharge helium ionization detector can be used to detect gases in hydrogen fuel.
BY:
ASTM International

ASTM International’s gaseous fuels committee (D03) is developing a proposed standard that will help to verify the purity level of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen fuel producers and testing laboratories will eventually be the primary users of the proposed standard (WK89809).

The test method will cover how gas chromatography and pulse discharge helium ionization detector (GC/PDHID) can be used to determine levels of the following (in parts per billion mole to parts per million mole) in hydrogen fuels:

  • Hydrogen;
  • Nitrogen;
  • Oxygen;
  • Methane;
  • Carbon monoxide; and,
  • Carbon dioxide.

“Hydrogen can be used as a zero-emission energy source, but even minuscule amounts of other gases can limit the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells,” says ASTM International member Shannon Coleman, GC application scientist, Agilent. “Gas chromatography (GC) is a technique that can measure trace-level impurities in a wide variety of substances.”

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. JOIN ASTM.

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Issue Month
May/June
Issue Year
2024