Hydrogen safety controller model with a deterministic and fault-tolerant architecture for monitoring hydrogen concentration in real-time

The transport sector remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions1. This impact is even greater in the case of perishable goods, where the vehicle’s propulsion engine or an auxillary unit must also power the refrigeration systems. As a result, engines run continuously, also while stationary, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions2. Fully electric solutions remain limited due to the high energy demands of refrigeration, meaning most systems still rely on diesel-powered engines, further elevating the environmental footprint of refrigerated transport.
Hydrocool is developing a “Made in Ontario” hydrogen-powered, AI-enabled zero-carbon mobile refrigeration system for cold-chain transport. The system requires a novel controller unit to be able to manage device modes, monitor input/output behavior, handle safety interlocks, and publish real-time data to a cloud dashboard. The solution replaces diesel powered cooling and heating units, eliminating emissions and reducing operating costs.
Refrigerated transport is recognized as one of the main areas in terms of potential energy savings and reduction of GHG emissions in cold chains3. Replacing a conventional diesel-powered transport refrigeration unit (TRU) with a hydrogen-powered alternative would deliver substantial environmental benefits across greenhouse gas and air quality impacts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Blaise

Student:

Partner:

Hydrocool

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology

Program: