Air Liquide inaugurates Cryocap, an industrial installation that reportedly enables the capture of CO2 released during hydrogen production via a cryogenic process. Cryocap is connected to Air Liquide’s largest hydrogen production unit in France, located in Port-Jérôme, Notre-Dame-de- Gravenchon (Normandy).
Developed jointly by Air Liquide R&D and Engineering & Construction teams, Cryocap is being rolled out for the first time in Port-Jérôme, on the SMR (Steam Methane Reformer 2) of Air Liquide, which produces hydrogen for the neighboring refinery, Esso Raffinage SAF (ExxonMobil group). Hydrogen is used to remove the sulfur content of the automotive fuels the refinery produces, in order to bring them into compliance with environmental standards in the transportation sector.
Cryocap captures CO2 emissions resulting from the production of hydrogen by natural gas reforming while improving efficiency, leading to an increased hydrogen production, according to the company. After being purified, the captured CO2 can be used to meet a variety of industrial needs for carbonic gas supply (carbonation of sparkling beverages, food preservation and freezing, etc.). The Cryocap unit reportedly has an annual capture capacity of 100 000 tons of CO2 at this site. Cryocap is part of Air Liquide’s broader Blue Hydrogen approach, whose goal is the gradual decarbonization of Air Liquide Group’s production of hydrogen for energy applications.
François Darchis, member of the Air Liquide executive committee supervising innovation, says, “We take particular pride in rolling out for the first time in France Cryocap, a technology that illustrates Air Liquide’s ability to innovate for environmental preservation. Cryocap contributes to decarbonized hydrogen mobility for the hydrogen-powered electric vehicles on the market.”
For more information, visit: www.airliquide.com