Professional Certificate of Competency in Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

Module 1: Drivers of Hydrogen as a Fuel

• Demand of mobility and the primary energy resources that are available
• Context and motivation for hydrogen as a fuel source
• Climate change & the need for a carbon free fuel
• Introduction to a range of hydrogen powered vehicles

Module 2: An Overview of Hydrogen Production, Distribution and Storage Process

• Categories of Hydrogen Production: Thermal, Electrolytic, Photolytic
• The Hydrogen distribution network
• Forms of Hydrogen storage: Gaseous, Liquid, Solid
• Hydrogen Safety

Module 3: Vehicle Powertrain and Architecture (I)

• Working principle of HPV
• Structural components of hydrogen powered vehicles
• Types of Fuel cells used in HPV
• Description of the hydrogen fuel tank
• Compare with internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles
• Explore fuel cell stack integration, electric drive trains and power distribution systems
• Advantages: system efficiency, range, power delivery, thermal stability, emissions etc

Module 4: Vehicle Powertrain and Architecture (II)

• Considerations for vehicle weight distribution, aerodynamics, and handling
• Computational modelling and simulation of vehicle performance
• System integration challenges
• Maintenance and servicing considerations
• Case studies of real-world performance data

Module 5: Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Production

• Comparison of fuel cell to alternative technologies
• Fuel cell types and their electrochemistry:

• Fuel Cell Systems – Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Automotive applications of PEM fuel cells
• Materials of construction and design challenges
• Factors to consider: cost, durability, and performance.
• Modelling of PEM fuel cells

Module 6: AFC, PAFC and Molten Carbonate Fuel cells

• Production technology
• Electrochemistry
• Operating range (temperature)
• HPV suitability

Module 7: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) for Vehicles

• Overview of fuel cell
• Solid oxide fuel cells for transportation – Advantages and shortcomings – Cell configurations
• Fuel types: Hydrogen, Ammonia, Hydrocarbons and Alcohols
• Applications
• FV vehicles challenges and related efforts

Module 8: Heat Transport and Thermal Management

• The heat in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Heat generation and heat transport
• Proton exchange membrane fuel cell thermal management
• The cooling of PEM Fuel cells
• Thermal management system
• Control Strategy
• Cold start

Module 9: Fuel Cell Durability Under Automotive Driving Cycles—Fundamentals and Experiment

• Fundamental degradation mechanisms under automotive driving cycles
• Steady-state durability test
• In situ accelerated stress test
• Ex situ accelerated stress test

Module 10: Hydrogen Refueling Stations/Infrastructure

• Hydrogen refueling station networks
• Challenges in hydrogen refueling stations network development
• Challenges in establishing a hydrogen refueling infrastructure
• Technical, regulatory and economic challenges/barriers
• Successful models from around the world
• Life cycle assessment of hydrogen powered vehicles – tie back in with topic 1 climate change/environmental footprint

Module 11: Hydrogen Systems in Vehicles and Their Risk

• Engines – hydrogen leak, ignition and dispersion
• Liquefied hydrogen storage system
• Fast fueling of compressed hydrogen storage containers
• Hydrogen cylinder design and testing
• Fuel cell safety analysis: – Safety and risk analysis – Vehicle demonstration programs – Regular updates in codes and standards

Module 12: Future Trends and Innovations