Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) Laboratory Cool. Fuel.

Musings of a new Cryogenecists: Day 1 – A new journey

This post is my thoughts as I’m designing my graduate experiment setup. If you’ve never done anything with cryogenics, but are planning on doing it in the future, hopefully it will dissuade you from some of the pit falls that I will invariably fall into; and for those that have done cryogenic work in the past, you can see me as I walk head-long into some of those pit falls. This is by no means supposed to be a comprehensive list to follow!

Designing any scientific experiment is an acquired skill, requiring some experience before it really becomes second nature. You have to figure out … » More …

WSU Rubotherm System Overview and Experimental Capabilities

Rubotherm IsoSORP instruments utilize a Magnetic Suspension Balance to provide highly accurate fluid density and sorption measurements. The system utilizes Archimedes’ principle to determine fluid density by suspending a sinker of known mass and volume in a fluid and measuring the weight with a precision balance. The applied force is transmitted to the balance by the magnetic suspension which decouples the testing fluid from the balance. The Rubotherm IsoSORP at Washington State University has recently been retrofitted for cryogenic temperatures and pressure up to 4000 psi. By placing the test cell in a vacuum chamber and thermally connecting it to a Cryomech cryocooler I have … » More …

HYPER – Technical Information

As a resource for the future of the HYPER lab, and as a service to other researchers looking for helpful information, advice, and technical knowledge, a new Technical Information section has been added to the website. Here you will be able to find explanations of the technical aspects of hydrogen research, as well as descriptions of what we’ve found to be best practices for a variety of common engineering problems. All information is from the first hand experience of lab members, and describes what we’ve found to be useful.

On the threshold of Washington State’s clean hydrogen economy

I recently made the case for a clean hydrogen economy in Washington State at the monthly Technology Alliance Science and Discovery Series. The slides from the talk are here. Alyssa Patrick was tweeting during the event and made a follow up blog post about the talk. In short, a clean hydrogen economy could happen soon and look like this in Washington State:

1) Hydrogen production: To add more infrequent renewables (wind, solar, tidal, etc.) to the grid, Bonneville Power needs more ways to balance the grid, adding power in some cases, removing power in others. Hydrogen electrolysis systems are ready and can respond rapidly … » More …

Genii UAV highlighted in DOE’s 2013 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report

The DOE’s 2013 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report discusses emerging trends in the hydrogen fuel cell industry. Genii is one of two technologies highlighted in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) section of the report: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/11/f19/fcto_2013_market_report.pdf  Way to go team!

Incidentally, it is the only mention of the State of Washington in the entire report (aside from Neah Power’s address).

H2 Fuel Station Mentioned in Alaska Airlines Magazine

The award winning hydrogen fuel station designed by Ian Richardson, Jake Fisher and Dr. Jake Leachman was mentioned in the latest version of Alaska Airline’s Magazine.  The excerpt is available here on page 34 or is provided bellow.

“In May, a team comprising WSU students and one University of Idaho student-involved in academic tracks ranging from mechanical engineering to economics and public policy-won first place in an international student competition to design a transportable, stand-alone, economical refueling station for hydrogen fuel cell-power cars, whose use may help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”

Hydrogen station design by HYPER lab members published by SAE magazines

HYPER lab members Jacob Fisher and Ian Richardson wrote an article for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) about a design for a hydrogen fueling station. The station is designed to support Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) during the early expansion of this new market. Follow the link below to read more about the design and the competition it won…

Hydrogen Fueling Station Design in SAE magazines

The only thing loony about Google’s project Loon is the helium.

Google’s project Loon  may be our best chance at saving the planet. Free access to humanity’s collective knowledge will do more than anything to assist those in 3rd world countries to help themselves,, and to inform those of us in the 1st world how bad things really are. The irony of Loon may be the “Balloon-powered” part of the “internet for all” slogan.

The balloons used in Loon are inflated with helium, yes the same gas filling in your party balloons, that is truly a depleting planetary resource. Helium cannot be created by any process besides nuclear reactions, in the sun or deep in the earth, and has escape velocity. … » More …