Bulletin TI-FID1000J
Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual
Technical Information
FID1000 and 2500 Gas Stations
1-800-343-4048
4
Hydrogen System
The Parker Balston FID Gas Station also includes a system to generate and purify hydrogen
gas. This portion of the generator includes: water feed system, proton exchange membrane
cell, and desiccant dryer (See figure 3).
The water reservoir for the hydrogen system includes and integral deionizer resin cartridge.
The resin cartridge sets inside the water bottle and all deionized water fed to the system
passes through this resin. The purpose of the cartridge is to ensure good quality (greater than
5 Megohm) water is circulated through the electrolyzer cell. Note: The deionizer cartridge is
not intended to purify tap water.
Electrolysis occurs inside the electrochemical cell assembly (Figure 3). Positively charged
hydrogen ions are transported across the solid polymer electrolyte along with excess water
molecules. The hydrogen ions then recombine to create molecular hydrogen. Negatively
charged oxygen ions recombine to form molecular oxygen. The water saturated oxygen is fed
into a water/oxygen separator, where the water is returned to the water tank, and the oxygen
escapes to the atmosphere. Small deionizer bags in the separator ensure the quality of the
water returned to the water tank.
The final stage of the hydrogen process is purification through the desiccant drying bed. Any
liquid water or moisture carried over in the electrolysis process is removed to purity 99.9995%.
When the desiccant becomes saturated, the orange beads indicating color will turn clear. At
this point, the expended cartridge can be exchanged or regenerated as per the procedure in
the Maintenance section.
Water Feed
PEM Cell
Desiccant Dryer
Figure 3 - Flow Schematic Hydrogen
Deionizer
Resin
Cartridge
