Hydrogen filling stations rely on process cooling systems

A French manufacturer of hydrogen filling stations has ordered about 20 process cooling systems which are an essential part of the refuelling of passenger vehicles. The process cooling systems are supplied by the German world leader in this technology. One part, a specially designed recirculating chiller maintains the hydrogen at -18°C is thought to use HFC refrigerant (R-410A) in a hermetic circuit, according to available product literature. In addition, a high-capacity process cooler pre-cools the hydrogen to -40°C at the start of the refuelling process. This is necessary as refuelling at a pressure of 700 bar causes high compression of the remaining gas in the tank and heats it up; the pre-cooled hydrogen absorbs the heat. The process cooling system achieves a peak cooling capacity of 40 kW at -40 °C and was specially designed for use in hydrogen filling stations.

According to the process cooling supplier, the production of green hydrogen is one of the key technologies for a successful energy transition, which requires temperature control expertise. Liquid refuelling is usually an attractive option for heavy vehicles (e.g., trains or ships), where much larger quantities of hydrogen need to be stored. Passenger cars normally refuel with gaseous hydrogen, where the quantities required are about 5 kg.

Source: Refrigeration Industry and manufacturer’s information

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