INDUSTRY & EVENT UPDATES

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.and KOBE STEEL LTD. have started operation of the world’s first next-generation hydrogen fuel supply system for hydrogen power generation, supplying hydrogen fuel to a power generating facility using a hydrogen Intermediate Fluid Vaporizer (IFV) combined with a liquefied hydrogen pump capable of pressurizing above its critical pressure.

This system is part of the NEDO-supported project, “Technology development to improve the efficiency and performance of the hydrogen fuel supply system in a hydrogen CGS regional model”, and is demonstrated at the Kobe Hydrogen Energy Center. Kawasaki is enhancing the efficiency of the fuel supply system for the gas turbine generator, while Kobe Steel is developing the IFV to utilize the cold energy from liquefied hydrogen.

In demonstration tests since January, hydrogen fuel was successfully supplied to a wet-type combustion gas turbine, with plans to extend to dry-type turbines, test performance under severe summer conditions, and verify the long-term reliability of liquefied hydrogen pumps.

This innovative system eliminates the need for high compression forces required by conventional gaseous hydrogen supply, enhancing overall energy efficiency. The cold energy from IFV vaporization can also be recovered for multiple applications, including cooling gas turbine intake air, refrigeration, data centers, and commercial/industrial air conditioning.

The system is scalable for large-capacity liquefied hydrogen power generation, paving the way for future hydrogen CGS deployment in industrial complexes, factories, and communities.