Presentation: Hydrogen Fundamentals
This presentation will provide a discussion on the safe operation and maintenance of hydrogen systems while highlighting some of the properties of hydrogen that make it a unique fuel in comparison to traditional fuels such as methane/natural gas, propane, and gasoline. In addition, the presentation will provide an overview of hydrogen explosion event that occurred at a power plant, discussing the event itself, a summary of the investigation that took place, the outcome of the investigation, and lessons that can be learned from the event and applied to hydrogen system design. Thereafter, a discussion on the safety challenges in the integration of hydrogen systems will be discussed with specific hydrogen system design examples provided where the risk of combustion events occurring are high as identified through post-event failure analysis and/or preventative risk assessment. Finally, there is an opportunity to have an open discussion on any number of hydrogen topics such as expected growth and challenges of the hydrogen market as well as discussion on specific technologies.
Guest Presenter: Cory Kreutzer
Cory is a Senior Chemist and Mechanical Engineer that works in WHA International’s Failure Analysis and Hydrogen Service areas where he provides hydrogen safety training, hydrogen combustion risk analysis, design consultation, and post-event failure assessments. In addition, Cory is an active committee member on NFPA 2: Hydrogen Technologies Code. Cory has an extensive background in hydrogen energy systems design and prior to working at WHA International was a group manager and research engineer in the hydrogen infrastructure team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. During his time at NREL, his team focused on a combination of experimental and modeling activities in hydrogen infrastructure integration from production through end-use applications. Emphasis areas included electrolysis and the coupling of renewable hydrogen production to broader energy systems such as wind/solar/grid assets, distribution, and storage of hydrogen in various forms. His group also explored and evaluated end-use applications of hydrogen such as transportation, industrial, heat/power, gas infrastructure, and other segments targeted by DOE’s H2@Scale initiative. Cory has a bachelors degree in chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines and a masters degree in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University. Prior to his work in hydrogen infrastructure, Kreutzer investigated thermal systems solutions for light- and heavy-duty vehicle applications, stationary natural gas and diesel internal combustion engine performance, and designed buoyantly driven biomass combustion systems. Outside of work, Cory doesn’t enjoy pulling weeds and driving his teen kids around, but spends most of his free time doing those activities anyway. If he had free time, he would enjoy fishing, rafting, hunting, woodworking and metalworking.