HySTAT™-A SYSTEMS
Frequently asked questions

• How do your HySTAT™-A systems work?
  Hydrogenics’ alkaline hydrogen generation systems HySTAT-A use electrolysis technology to produce hydrogen. Electrolysis is the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen gas using electricity. Once separated, the gases are kept separate by an impermeable proprietary membrane and directly either to storage or directly 'on demand' to the hydrogen load.
• How reliable are the HySTAT™-A electrolyzer systems?
  Our HySTA-A systems are very reliable. In fact we have had industrial systems using the Stuart Cell technology in the field for more than 30 years requiring only regular maintenance.
  • Our IMET^® based HySTAT-A systems have a life expectancy of greater than 10 years without major overhaul.
• What type of water is required for your systems?
  Our systems use demineralized water in the cell stacks. Demineralizers for this purpose are typically integrated into our turnkey system product. Water is used both as feed-water and cooling agent .
• How safe are the HySTAT™-A systems?
  Hydrogenics has gained more than 55 years from Stuart Energy’s legacy in building and commissioning hydrogen equipment, with an enviable safety record. There has never been a loss of life at our facility or at a customer’s facility due to faulty equipment.
  • Our systems are designed with safety in mind. Our customers can remotely monitor the systems and we have electrical and hardwired safety systems that will automatically shut the plant down in unsafe situations.
• How much does a system cost?
  HySTAT-A turnkey systems are customized from standard modules. The result is that it is difficult to provide figures as the level of customization may materially impact the price of the systems. Hydrogenics would be pleased to provide a quote for your company’s needs. To do so we need to inquire on application needs such as pressure, quantity and purity levels of hydrogen among other details. Contact us if you wish to request a quote.
• Is Hydrogen safe?
  Hydrogen is as safe as or safer than many fuels that we deal with today. In fact Hydrogen has many properties that make it safer than today’s conventional fuels. It is non-toxic, noncorrosive and non-carcinogenic; therefore it doesn't have any adverse effects on the environment. Hydrogen is the lightest and most buoyant element, so if it is released into an open space it quickly disperses, dramatically reducing the chance of ignition. In general, for every 96 parts of air, at least 4 parts must be hydrogen before there is a threat of combustion. This is actually quite a high concentration relative to other commonly used fuels (like propane and gasoline).
  • There is a misconception that hydrogen is highly explosive. Hydrogen has the lowest explosive energy per volume: more than 22 times less than gasoline vapour.
  • Since hydrogen does not contain carbon, its flame has the lowest heat radiation of commonly used fuels. It means that hydrogen fires have the lowest risk of setting secondary fires.
  • All hydrogen vehicles and fueling stations have hydrogen leak detectors to enhance their safe operation. Of course when fueling with hydrogen you must follow the same safety precautions as you follow today including no smoking, cell phone use, etc.
  For more information on hydrogen safety link to our Hydrogen Safety page of the Hydrogenics main website.
• Is hydrogen really as clean as everyone is saying?
  Hydrogen made from water and clean electricity such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and nuclear is the only pathway to a completely zero emission energy cycle. In many areas of the world the electricity grid has a large component of clean electricity including hydroelectric power. In these cases grid connected hydrogen stations produce little to no emissions. We believe that renewable energy will continue to play an ever increasing role in the grid mix of most industrialized and developing nations.
  • Even in cases where hydrogen is produced from carbon-based electricity, hydrogen from electrolysis can still be beneficial. Electrolysis enables you to centralize carbon emissions, making it easier to control and contain.
• Is electrolysis the most expensive means of generating hydrogen?
  The cost of generating hydrogen from water electrolysis is becoming more and more economical. As the price of fossil fuels (natural gas) continues to rise the difference between electrolysis and other methods of generating hydrogen is becoming less significant.
  • Our systems are highly efficient and we are continuously improving these efficiencies.
  • Our systems can be leveraged across multiple applications increasing utilization and accelerating amortization of capital costs.
  • Our systems are modular and scaleable enabling our customers to produce only the amount of hydrogen you require, i.e. no burn off or waste product.
  • Electrolysis also enables our customers to take advantage of less expensive off-peak rates where available.
  • The properties of hydrogen make transporting it very costly and difficult, therefore producing hydrogen on-site eliminates these and other related costs.