MAN Cryo says work underway on 'several' liquefied hydrogen projects

MAN Cryo said it has initiated several projects – currently in different stages – with different class societies since an announcement in December 2018 that the company was developing the world’s first hydrogen system.

The LH₂ FGSS system has a scalable design and can be adapted for different shipping types, sizes and conditions. The design is suited for both above- and below-deck applications to offer ship designers the flexibility to optimise their designs in relation to efficiency, and to cargo or passenger space.

At -253°C, liquefied hydrogen places system components and materials under extreme stress coupled with hydrogen’s flammable nature. The company said its system design benefits from a combination of MAN Cryo’s knowledge from numerous hydrogen installations over the years on land and experience in marine fuel-gas systems for LNG.

Once liquefied, hydrogen is reduced to 1/800th of its volume, compared to that of its gas phase, facilitating a more-efficient distribution. Hydrogen fuel emits no CO₂ and is seen as a viable future fuel. Liquefied hydrogen can be used to charge batteries for electrical propulsion via fuel-cell technology.

The LH2 FGSS projects are for systems with various sizes of vacuum tanks equipped with tank connection spaces and the safety and function equipment they require.

While the nature of the project and the owners remain undisclosed, the head of MAN Cryo, Louise Andersson said the projects represent a milestone.

“Hydrogen is on everybody’s mind for a green future and also fits well with MAN Energy Solutions’ power-to-X strategy. We are very happy to take the lead with this alternative fuel that has so much latent potential,” she said.

The company manufactures the liquid-hydrogen systems at its own facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, and said its FGSS design concept has been reviewed and approved by several class societies.