Japanese firm produces hydrogen-powered chiller
9th December 2023
JAPAN: A Japanese manufacturer claims to have developed the world’s first hydrogen-powered absorption chiller/heater.
According to the manufacturer, Ebara Refrigeration Systems, the use of hydrogen can reduce annual CO2 emissions by 94% compared to gas. Another feature of hydrogen is that it can be directly combusted and used without converting it into power or electricity.
The characteristics of hydrogen meant that the design required a backfire prevention device for the hydrogen pipes and and a function to inject inert gas to prevent the gas pipes from filling with a flammable mixture of hydrogen and air.
Tokyo-based Ebara says it has incorporated a specially-developed low NOx burner to overcome hydrogen’s high flame temperature and tendency to increase the concentration of NOx in the exhaust gas.
The RHDH absorption chiller/heater is said to be equipped with various energy-saving technologies as standard, such as variable flow rate control of cooling water and chilled/hot water, energy-saving operation mode, and start-up time reduction control.
