American Sensor Technologies (AST) was successful in obtaining the 79/2009/EC approval for its OEM pressure sensors models AST2000 and AST4000. All components and systems that are to be installed on hydrogen-powered vehicles need to get this approval as per the European Community Directive.
AST2000 and AST 4000 Pressure Sensors
Karmjit Sidhu, the Vice President of the Business development division at AST, claimed that AST was the first and only supplier of EC79 approved sensors. He added that with this certification there was an increased scope for AST to contribute to the growing hydrogen powered vehicle market.
The EC79 approval was given for the 2MPa range of AST2000 model and the AST4000model. These sensors were used on the hydrogen regulator that controlled the flow of hydrogen gas to the fuel cell stack. The other approved pressure sensors from AST is the 35MPa range that is used on Class 3 hydrogen tanks that are on busses, forklifts, off-road vehicles and farm machinery.
In the approval process, the AST sensors were tested in accordance with the Regulation EU 406/2010 to check if they were compliant with Regulation EC79/2009 set by the European Parliament and Council of European Union. The testing procedures and the requirements were carried out in order to match the integrated system safety requirements. Alternate fuel carrier options such as hydrogen gas in surface transport, go a long way in developing green technology.