The Research Association for Hydrogen Supply Utilization Technology (HySUT) is conducting the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project Phase 3 (JHFC-3) project in conjunction with New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). As one aspect of this project 2 hydrogen filling stations and a hydrogen delivery certification facility are to be constructed. Both are scheduled for completion in February of next year. JX Nippon Oil & Energy will operate them and they will be used in the certifications tests.

The current project for the hydrogen stations to be constructed differs from those up to now regarding the following three items:

Applicable specifications based on the simultaneous installation of gas stations
Utilization of the 80MPa class storage cylinders made with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)
Stations in package form
Selection of the sites envisioned for commercial use down to layout design, consideration of facility specifications, and operation will be undertaken as one consistent aspect. In the process for this, issues will be singled out such as the costs envisioned for future development technology.

The accumulators to be brought in are a new type, wrapped in strengthened plastic made from carbon fiber. By reducing the thickness of the liner, the pressure resistance is increased to reduce the cost. The important component equipment such as the compressor, the accumulator, and the pipes are to be sold as a package so that the area occupied by the facility is made smaller in size and the time required for installation is reduced.

They produce the mobile filling facility for the compressed hydrogen and the trailers used for transport for the facility for testing the filling work of the hydrogen and the optimization of transportation efficiency, as well as safety. The hydrogen trailers are a new type produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. They carry several CFRP containors with a filling pressure of 45MPa. The amount of compressed hydrogen carried is about 3,000 Nm3.