In January 2019, Air Water developed an hydrogen (H2) gas generator “VHR” of the next-generation type which could attain the world highest efficiency level to produce hydrogen by reforming town gas.

In May of this year, the first model of 300Nm3/h will be put in commercial operations in AWI’s Amagasaki Gas Center. It will be followed by promotion of sales targeting the firm demand for the consumption of industrial hydrogen such as optical fiber, iron and steel or semiconductor.

The output of H2 generated by VHR is 100 to 400N m3/h with a purity of 5N at maximum. The adoption of reformer of its own development has realized a uniform and highly efficient reforming reaction, optimized the heat recovering process in the generator and raised the heat use effects up to the utmost limit.

Furthermore, in combination with the well-experienced hydrogen purifying technology fostered with the current “VH”, a satisfactory technology with high efficiency has been established. Comparing with VH, the consumption of town gas has decreased by 6%, and also the CO2 emission has reduced by 10% in total which includes the power saving effect related to the operation of the machine.

As it does not require any addition of oxygen, it has got to be the greatly cost-effective equipment of all hydrogen generating machines resulting in the reduction of running cost by 25%.