The machine produces 450 kg of hydrogen per hour

Chinese group Shuangliang announced that it has completed a new hydrogen production machine with the ability to process 5,000 standard cubic meters per hour (Nm3/h), Interesting Engineering reported on October 22. Shuangliang said that this is the largest alkaline water electrolysis machine in the world.

1 Nm3/h is equivalent to about 0.09 kg. This means the new machine will be able to produce about 450 kg of hydrogen per hour and use less than 43.09 kWh of electricity per kg. If true, it would be the world’s largest and most efficient machine of its kind.

Another example in the world is the pressure alkaline electrolysis machine of the German company Nordex SE located in Spain. It is capable of producing about 10 kg of hydrogen per hour, consuming less than 50 kWh of electricity per kg.

Alkaline electrolysers like Shuangliang’s new device work by combining high concentrations of liquid electrolytes, such as potassium or sodium hydroxide, with porous inorganic membranes and special electrodes. The electrolyte is then passed between the electrodes and separated into various gases.

Next, an electric current passes through the electrolyte, splitting the water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be extracted, ready for storage and use. This technology is ideal for large-scale hydrogen production at a relatively low cost.

Hydrogen can be used directly as fuel or for other industrial applications. The entire process is carried out using renewable technology, which does not directly emit CO2. Hydrogen can also serve fuel cell technology, a growing field in transportation and energy production. This is also an important raw material in the chemical industry to produce products such as ammonia.