University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering alum Vesna Mirkovic (BSEE 1999) has received the Outstanding Inventor Award from the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association.
Mirkovic and a colleague, William Spencer Wheat, received the award for their work with Chevron exploring the logistical aspects of using of hydrogen as a fuel source. Mirkovic works for Chevron Technology Ventures and Wheat with the Chevron Energy Technology Company.
Together, they developed a remote automated control system that manages several different processes and systems for the unmanned operation of Chevron’s hydrogen fueling stations.
Thanks to this system, the fueling stations, located in Chino and Oakland, California, can be monitored with a computer controlled by engineers in Houston.
Each fueling station produces high-purity hydrogen from pipeline-quality natural gas. Each stores up to 100 kilograms of hydrogen in pressurized containers – enough fuel to support up to five hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Access to the stations is currently limited to demonstration vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
According to Mirkovic, unmanned operation of these fueling stations significantly cuts their operating costs. In addition, since the system allows for a single point of control for multiple stations, all operating data can be collected at a single point, and the engineers at the system’s location can to address multiple issues simultaneously.
“It’s gratifying to be part of a team that is implementing alternative and renewable energy sources in real-world settings,” said Mirkovic. “We’re part of an effort to help diversify the world’s energy supplies.”