Since hydrogen has emerged as a vital enabler for carbon reduction in competition with the electrical battery pack vehicle, the emergence of Hydrogen has grown remarkably.
For vehicle customers, hydrogen fuel, with an energy-to-weight ratio 10x greater than lithium batteries have a key practical advantage over battery-electric propulsion. The time required to fill a 350-or 700-bar (5,000-10,000psi) high-pressure storage tank is as quick as topping off with gasoline or diesel. Battery or Battery hybrid isn’t even in the ballpark!
Fuel cells ‘performance, as well as efficiency, are indeed a logical alternative to electric or hybrid vehicles for both commercial and public applications. For example, a typical battery-electric Class-8 truck will need an average of 1 megawatt of power to charge the 1-megawatt battery that powers the truck. It is also going to take an hour to charge. In comparison, at a typical truck stop, for example, for every existing diesel fuel pump that can fill a trucks tank in six minutes, one can see the time as well as funds lost. Bigger batteries will take longer to charge or demand higher-powered fast chargers. Battery mass frequency must also be offset by payload reduction.
A recent report has shown that the global market for hydrogen fuel cells for all applications is to grow from $7.5 billion in 2022 to $19.5 billion in 2027 at a growth rate of 21% showing an emerging market of substantial growth potential! Honda will launch U.S. production of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in 2024; the first model will be a plug-in hybrid.
One reason fuel cells match so well with H2 is that they are at least 2x more efficient than combustion engines as well as the fact that aspects of hydrogen as a fuel are great. No carbon, and Flame speeds are high. You can go very, very lean with hydrogen, which is good. NOx is reduced and you will probably be able to meet NOx emissions without aftertreatment.
The process of Electrolysis, a process in which an electric current is run through water to produce streams of hydrogen and oxygen gasses, is gaining share in the hydrogen-production market due to its ability to generate gas carbon-free - making fuel cells a truly zero-emission source of electricity when the hydrogen is produced from decarbonized sources.
All of this will bring Hydrogen to the forefront for vehicle fuels on the everyday level, overtaking, in the near future, gasoline, and this will bring about the need for the everyday fuel transfer coupler that can be used, without the fear of escaping gasses, by the public the same as the now-day gas pump.
Since this concept was first conceived by me for use on the proposed Moon Base as a robotic applied fuel transfer unit, the application requirements, safety requirements, as well as simplicity of use were very high, resulting in a device that would work well when used by the public.
Zip Lok®'s flexible thread design eliminates the helical leak path preventing the loss of fuel and potentially hazardous material.
The Double FFS/Off design retracts the threads when activated, thereby rapidly removing fasteners and connections. In addition, this feature incorporates a locking system that prevents accidental disconnection under load. For many markets, such as industrial gas filling, this feature reduces repetitive hand motion problems and virtually doubles the product benefit without doubling the cost.
Since the thread segments operate independently, the opposing threads can be out of alignment with the Fullerton Fastener. Therefore, the thread segments align upon continued insertion, and the thread segments will fully seat upon full insertion. This makes it easier to make connections when speed is essential.
Zip Lok® can be unlocked with the insertion of a locking tool to permit torque to the proper torque value; at that time, the Locking tool will "cycle" to prevent over-torquing. Inversely, insertion of an unlocking tool can disengage the lock and allow for quick removal of the coupler.
All use them in their production facilities to refill high-pressure gas cylinders.
Holox uses FFS to refill gas cylinders in their facilities.
Zip Lok® is the "push on" solution the airframe industry has been waiting for. It performs well under vibration, helps workers with installation in tight locations where threads may not be visible, and eliminates the need for other locking devices, such as washers and safety wire. Previous iterations of the design have been proven to save lives and prevent catastrophic failures in flight. Learn more about Zip Lok® aircraft panel fasteners here.
The global market for hydrogen fuel cells is expected to grow from $7.5 billion in 2022 to $19.5 billion in 2027 at a growth rate of 21%. As hydrogen becomes more widely used as a vehicle fuel, there will be a need for a fuel transfer coupler that can be used by the public, similar to a gas pump. The Zip Lok® Hydrogen Coupler, which was originally conceived for use on the proposed Moon Base, meets the high application and safety requirements needed for everyday use. The coupler is a simple and efficient device that will enable the safe transfer of hydrogen fuel to vehicles, without the fear of escaping gases. Learn more about Zip Lok®'s fuel coupler applications here.
Astronaut Steven L. Smith, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission 3A payload commander, retrieves a Pistol Grip Tool (PGT) power tool while standing on the mobile foot restraint at the end of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). Here Smith is using a flexible thread system to quickly make repairs in one of the most complex environment - An application where Zip Lok® thrives. Read more about Zip Lok®'s potential space applications here.