Liquid hydrogen

In the transition from fossil to renewable energy sources, the role of green hydrogen is increasingly relevant with production volume growing each year.

Green hydrogen gas has no fossil footprint since it is made by electrolysis using electricity produced by solar and wind power. While part of this electricity production is directly used as electric energy, a part is converted to hydrogen gas either for storage of energy or for use as fuel in mobility.

This storage can either be by compression to 350 or 700 bar, or by cooling and liquefying the hydrogen gas to below -250^oC.

The choice to use compression or liquefaction depends on the usage of the H₂. Liquefaction is especially required when larger volumes need to be transported over long distances or when there is limited space on board of a vehicle to store the more voluminous tanks for compressed gas.

Liquid hydrogen Production

For the liquefaction of hydrogen various technologies are available, used for different volumes.

The Stirling Cryogenerator has a role to play in the smaller scale production such as for solar and windfarms. Typical production capacity ranges from 5 to 400 kg/day.

Liquid hydrogen BOG Management

When Liquid hydrogen is stored, heat losses of the tank will cause evaporation of the liquid, called Boil-Off Gas or BOG. To avoid this gas being vented with the consequently loss of energy, it will have to be re-liquefied. Stirling Cryogenics provides such BOG solutions for liquid hydrogen tanks.

Products

References

For more information contact us.