Green Hydrogen
CUSTOMISED COOLER FOR GREEN HYDROGEN PLANT | SILICA VERFAHRENSTECHNIK GMBH
Green Hydrogen
Safety first
Berlin-based Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH, which specialises in designing and manufacturing systems for purifying and drying gases, ordered a Shell & Tube Double Safety model. It is being used to remove water from the hydrogen produced in the new plant.
The advantage of our technology is that the tubes have two walls, consisting of an inner and outer tube. They also have two tube sheets at each end. So, if a tube wall is damaged, the product flows through leakage channels arranged between the double tubes into a leakage collection space and triggers an alarm in the leak detection device. Because the second tube wall remains undamaged, the media are kept separate. This means the heat exchanger can continue running until the next maintenance, avoiding costly unplanned downtimes, as well as contamination of the process and its equipment.
Previously, Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH had used single tube heat exchangers with additional safety devices. We were able to customize our double tube safety model to meet challenging requirements of Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH and the end customer.
Reducing HAZOP and FMEA efforts
Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH also wanted to reduce their Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and hazard and operability study (HAZOP) efforts, which identifies potential dangers to personnel, equipment and the environment.
FMEA looks at potential process failures, leading to waste, defects and harmful outcomes.
“Kelvion provided us with a customized product that exceeded our expectations.” said Dr. Andreas Hartbrich, CEO of Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH. “The double tube safety technology means there is no need for intermediate circuits and safety devices that we had to use with single tube heat exchangers. We feel safer with this new system.”
The result
The new electrolysis plant is expected to generate up to 290 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour, using electricity from renewable sources. After seeing the benefits of double tube safety heat exchangers, Silica Verfahrenstechnik GmbH plans to use them on other projects.