Plug Power partnership with Burckhardt Compression yields successful hydrogen liquefaction
PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES GREEN HYDROGEN ECOSYSTEM
BURCKHARDT
Plug Power partnership with Burckhardt Compression yields successful hydrogen liquefaction
Making green hydrogen a readily available fuel relies on rapidly building production facilities . Companies like Plug Power are leading the way , creating an endto-end green hydrogen ecosystem . In this environment , effectively delivering sufficient hydrogen relies on large reciprocating compressors , which is why Plug Power has partnered with Burckhardt Compression , a leading supplier of compression solutions for sustainable applications , to provide specialized equipment for new projects .
Green hydrogen is produced from water by splitting the hydrogen and oxygen molecules using electrolysis . This process is powered by renewable energy sources such as solar , wind or hydro , and when the resulting gas is utilized in a fuel cell system , the only emission is water . Consequently , green hydrogen promises to decarbonize industry , vehicles , and the way we produce fuel . There is a catch though - hydrogen is an incredibly light gas which makes it challenging to deliver it in required quantities to the consumer . Therefore , it must be compressed , or like in this case , even liquefied before transport to filling stations . Big efficiency for large equipment renewable energy project where maximizing production output versus power consumed is crucial .”
Considering this , Plug Power approached Burckhardt Compression to deliver a large quantity of H2 piston compressors in a phased order to support the construction of multiple new hydrogen liquefaction facilities . The first phase of compressors required the Burckhardt Compression team in the US to quickly grow its capacity .
“ We have operated a facility in Waller , Texas , for eight years now , and assembling the piston compressors required for the project on-site meant we had to expand . Each compressor weighs more than 200,000 pounds ( 91 tons ), which exceeded the capacity of our cranage . Beyond equipment upgrades , we also needed to bolster our team ,” says Michael Ciambella , Compressor Engineering and Manufacturing Manager .
Increasing capacity and expertise The expectations from Plug Power were high and Burckhardt Compression planned to exceed them . Ramping up assembly was dependent on the ability to move around a fully built compressor to enable assemblies to be executed in parallel . Burckhardt Compression invested in a hydraulic gantry crane system with a 1-millionpound ( 450 ton ) lifting capacity , which would allow the safe , slow movement of the compressors across the workshop . The company worked with experts to install and supervise all lifts during the project .
Oliver Franz , Sales Manager H2 for Mobility & Energy at Burckhardt Compression , explains the best approach : “ To move large quantities of hydrogen efficiently , ring type compressors are a better choice than centrifugal . Our designs offer industry leading efficiency , which is an advantage especially in a
Burckhardt Compression was able to design a dry running piston compressor with a highly variable turndown arrangement to exactly meet customer needs .
90 PECM Issue 72