Hydrogen compressor

A hydrogen compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of hydrogen by reducing its volume. Compression of hydrogen gas naturally increases its temperature, due to Charles's law. Hydrogen embrittlement occurs.

Hydrogen compressors are closely related to hydrogen pumps and gas compressors: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of hydrogen gas, whereas the main result of a pump raising the pressure of a liquid is to allow the liquid hydrogen to be transported elsewhere.

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Staged compression

Since compression generates heat, the compressed gas is to be cooled between stages making the compression less adiabatic and more isothermal.

For instance in a typical hydrogen compressor, the hydrogen is compressed in four stages.

Types of hydrogen compressors

Piston-Metal Diaphragm compressor

Piston-metal diaphragm compressors are stationary high pressure compressors, 4 staged water cooled, 11~15kW 30~50Nm3/h 40MPa for dispensation of hydrogen.[1]

Thermal hydrogen compressor

In a thermal hydrogen compressor the use of the thermal and pressure properties of a hydride to absorb low pressure hydrogen gas and release high pressure hydrogen gas.[2]. absorption on ambient temperatures, on release the bed is heated with hot water.

Electrochemical hydrogen compressor

A multi-stage electrochemical hydrogen compressor incorporates a series of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs), similar to those used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. [3], this type of compressor has no moving parts and is compact. With electrochemical compression of hydrogen a pressure of 5000 psi is achieved.

See also

• Hydrogen tank
• Hydrogen station
• Hydrogen leak testing