science

Hydrogen compressor

Hydrogen compressor is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hydrogen compressor rather than just read about it. In short: A hydrogen compressor is a device that increases the pressure of hydrogen by reducing its volume resulting in compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen. Traditionally, applications for hydrogen compressors included Chlorine electrolyser and many chemical applications like the production of hydrogen peroxide (HPPO).

Key takeaways

Hydrogen compressor belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Hydrogen compressor to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Hydrogen compressor from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A hydrogen compressor is a device that increases the pressure of hydrogen by reducing its volume resulting in compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen. Traditionally, applications for hydrogen compressors included Chlorine electrolyser and many chemical applications like the production of hydrogen peroxide (HPPO). The newer applications related to green and environmentally friendly technologies include fuel cells and electrolysis for hydrogen production.

Compressor vs pump 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.

Types

Reciprocating piston compressors A proven method to compress hydrogen is to apply reciprocating piston compressors. Widely used in refineries, they are the backbone of refining crude oil. Reciprocating piston compressors are commonly available as either oil-lubricated or non-lubricated; for high pressure (350 - 700 bar), non-lubricated compressors are preferred to avoid oil contamination of the hydrogen. Typical drive power is in the order of magnitude of Megawatts (300kW-15MW). Expert know-how on piston sealing and packing rings can ensure that reciprocating compressors outperform the competing technologies in terms of MTBO (Mean Time Between Overhaul).

Ionic liquid piston compressor An ionic liquid piston compressor is a hydrogen compressor based on an ionic liquid piston instead of a metal piston as in a piston-metal diaphragm compressor.

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; this type of compressor has no moving parts and is compact. The electrochemical compressor works similar to a fuel cell, a voltage is applied to the membrane and the resulting electric current pulls hydrogen through the membrane. With electrochemical compression of hydrogen, a pressure of 14500 psi (1000bar or 100MPa) is achieved. A patent is pending claiming an exergy efficiency of 70 to 80% for pressures up to 10,000 psi or 700 bars. A single stage electrochemical compression to 800 bar was reported in 2011.

Hydride compressor In a hydride compressor, thermal and pressure properties of a hydride are used to absorb low-pressure hydrogen gas at ambient temperatures and then release high-pressure hydrogen gas at higher temperatures; the bed of hydride is heated with hot water or an electric coil.

Piston-metal diaphragm compressor Piston-metal diaphragm compressors are stationary high-pressure compressors, four-staged water-cooled, 11–15 kW, 30–50 Nm3/h 40 MPa for dispensation of hydrogen. Since compression generates heat, the compressed gas is to be cooled between stages making the compression less adiabatic and more isothermal. The default assumption on diaphragm hydrogen compressors is an adiabatic efficiency of 70%. Used in hydrogen stations.

Guided rotor compressor The guided rotor compressor (GRC) is a positive-displacement rotary compressor based upon an envoluted trochoid geometry which utilizes a parallel trochoid curve to define its basic compression volume. It has a typical 80 to 85% adiabatic efficiency.

Linear compressor The single-piston linear compressor uses dynamic counterbalancing, where an auxiliary movable mass is flexibly attached to a movable piston assembly and to the stationary compressor casing using auxiliary mechanical springs with zero vibration export at minimum electrical power and current consumed by the motor. It is used in cryogenics

See also Compressed hydrogen – Gaseous state of the element hydrogen kept under pressure Hydrogen turboexpander-generator High-pressure electrolysis Hydrogen embrittlement – Reduction in ductility of a metal exposed to hydrogen Hydrogen tank – Container for hydrogen storage Hydrogen leak testing

References

External links 2004-Osti Hybrid Compressor-Expander

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hydrogen compressor

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hydrogen compressor claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hydrogen compressor before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hydrogen compressor ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hydrogen compressor

In research: Hydrogen compressor appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Hydrogen compressor in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Hydrogen compressor is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Compressors, Hydrogen technologies, Industrial gases, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Hydrogen compressor outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Hydrogen compressor in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Hydrogen compressor means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Hydrogen compressor out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hydrogen compressor in simple terms?

Why does Hydrogen compressor matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hydrogen compressor?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hydrogen compressor.