On August 13th, Sichuan Tianyi Science and Technology Co., Ltd., established by the Southwest Research and Design Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., successfully commissioned a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen production facility with a gas treatment capacity of 340,000 Nm³/h. All technical parameters met the design specifications, marking the opening of the world's largest PSA hydrogen production plant. This achievement highlights that China's PSA technology has now reached global advanced levels.
Previously, the largest operating PSA hydrogen plant in China had a capacity of 75,000 Nm³/h, while the largest abroad was 236,000 Nm³/h. The new facility not only surpasses these figures but also sets a new benchmark for scale and efficiency.
Wang Heming, Deputy General Manager of Shenhehua Group, explained that this PSA purification hydrogen plant is a key component of the group’s "coal-to-oil" project. Coal from the preparation unit is converted into syngas through partial oxidation, then purified via PSA to produce high-purity hydrogen at a rate of 280,000 Nm³/h with a purity of 99.9% and a yield of over 90%.
Industry experts praised the project for its groundbreaking engineering design, process innovation, and advanced automation. For instance, the system uses a novel dual-discharge operation process with independent intellectual property rights, simplifying the flow and improving stability and yield. It also introduces a 12-tower, 4-group configuration, enabling smooth switching between 12 and 6 towers, which enhances control and reduces complexity.
The project also features a first-of-its-kind Yx sealing ring for flat panel seals, and all 172 valves passed inspection by the Shenhua Group expert panel, ensuring zero leakage. A new air distributor was used to boost adsorbent efficiency, while the particle size of the adsorbent was optimized to reduce dead space and improve hydrogen recovery rates.
Tianke Co., Ltd. is recognized as a global leader in PSA system engineering. With expertise in process technology, special adsorbents, valves, and automation, the company has developed its own intellectual property. Since winning the bid for Zhejiang Zhenhai Refining & Chemical’s large-scale PSA plant in 1994, it has broken foreign monopolies and significantly reduced reliance on imported technology. To date, Tianke has installed over 1,000 systems worldwide, generating more than 50 billion yuan in revenue for enterprises.
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