MKK Announces Development of NewHydrogen Generation System "HyGeia"

Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd. (President: Satoru Hatano) has developed a new hydrogen generation system called "HyGeia" which generates high-purity(99.999%) hydrogen at a rate of 50Nm³/hr while reducing feedstock consumption by more than 20% in comparison with conventional systems. The system is also compact, reducing installation space requirements by half, while total automationdramatically improves user-friendliness and reliability.

HyGeia can be usedin“hydrogen stations“ for fuel cell vehicles (FCV), which will be increasingly important in the future, and as an alternative to compressed hydrogen, which has been used in semiconductor manufacturing, silica glass production, heat treatment of metals, and other applications.

MKK has the longest history of developing hydrogen generation systems in Japan, as well as the Japan's most extensivesupply record, having constructed approximately 100 units in a wide range of capacities from large-scale (1000Nm³/hr or more) and medium-scale (200-1000Nm³/hr) to small-scale (40-200Nm³/hr). Total H₂ gas generation capacity installed to date is approximately 810,000Nm³/hr. In particular, MKK recently supplied 4 hydrogen generation systemsto hydrogen stations for use in demonstration tests with FCV.

In developing the innovative HyGeia hydrogen generation system, MKK has brought together this accumulated experience and know-how under the concept of "compact, high-reliability systemscapable of supplying low-cost hydrogen to the next-generation hydrogen-based society."

MKK now plans to developother hydrogen generation systems for use with LPG and other feedstocks and systems with capacities of 100, 200 or 300Nm³/hr for successive introduction into the market.

[System specifications]

System capacity	: 50Nm3/hr
Feedstock	: 13A city gas (natural gas)
Product hydrogen purity	: 99.999% or higher
Delivery pressure	: 0.7MpaG (max.)
Space requirement	: 9m2 (approx.)

[Features]

• High Efficiency
  By adopting a thoroughgoing energy-saving design, the system reduces feedstock consumption by more than 20% in comparison with conventional systems, and also reduces hydrogen generating costs.
• Compact Size
  As a result of a sweeping design review, the installation space requirement was reduced to 1/2 (approx. 9m²) that of conventional systems.
• Complete Automation
  This high-reliability system reflects MKK’s wealth of experience in the operation of compact hydrogen generation systems. Standard equipment includes an operating sequence which responds automatically to starts, stops, and load changes.
• Simplified Installation
  The new system adopts a skid-mount system, including the feedstock compressor and off-gas holder, for easy installation and simplified site construction work.

[Origin of Name]
HyGeia is an abbreviation of Hydrogen Generation-system “Improved Apparatus” and is named for the goddess of health (Hygeia) in Greek mythology.