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Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Evaluation of Hydrogen Sensors

Cooperative Research and 

Development Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-14-547

NREL Technical Contact: William Buttner

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-5400-65093

October 2015
NOTICE

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This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI, A(3) of the CRADA document, this 

document is the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to 

the Office of Science and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to 

demonstrate results of federally funded research.

Parties to the Agreement: KPA Services, LLC

CRADA Number: CRD-14-547

CRADA Title: Evaluation of Hydrogen Sensors

Joint Work Statement Funding Table Showing DOE Commitment:

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 25,000.00

TOTALS $ 25,000.00

Abstract of CRADA Work:

In preparation for the projected 2015 release of commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, KPA has 

been contracted by Toyota Motors to develop a hydrogen safety system for vehicle repair 

facilities. Repair facility safety designs will include hydrogen sensors. KPA will identify critical 

sensor specifications for vehicle repair facilities. In collaboration with NREL, KPA will select 

and purchase commercial hydrogen sensors that meet or nearly meet requirements for 

deployment in vehicle repair facility. A two-phase field deployment plan to verify sensor 

performance has been developed.

Summary of Research Results:

The use of sensors is explicitly specified in the International Fire Code for repair facilities 

servicing hydrogen vehicles. To address the sensor requirement, NREL in partnership with KPA, 

performed a qualification project assessing the ability of select commercial hydrogen sensors to 

perform in a repair facility environment. Four different sensor models were used in the study 

representing a variety of sensing element platforms (e.g., electrochemical, metal oxide, and 

combustible gas sensors), identified in the attached report as Model 1 through 4. Three units of 

each model type were acquired; two units were to be deployed in the Toyota vehicle repair 

facility, the third was to be deployed at NREL in a clean regulated environment. The sensors 

were evaluated prior to and following deployment. Based on the Laboratory and Field 

performance data, it was concluded that Model 1 qualified for use in hydrogen vehicle repair 

facilities. No other tested sensor met the necessary performance requirements.

Subject Inventions Listing: None

Report Date: 7/16/15
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This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL: William Buttner

Name and email address of POC at company: Trevor Stage (tstage@kpaonline.com)

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.