HyET Hydrogen, a leading SME in electrochemical hydrogen compression and separation, has been driving innovation since 2008. Based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, the company partners with key stakeholders to scale up its advanced hydrogen processing technologies. HyET’s solutions stand out for their efficiency, reliability, and ability to meet the growing demand for sustainable hydrogen compression and separation.
Advancing hydrogen compression technology
HyET Hydrogen manufactures Electrochemical Hydrogen Processing Technology. Specifically, HyET Hydrogen focuses in the development, optimization and commercialization of Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression and Separation Technology.
Its modular design, the absence of moving parts that allows for a silence operation and low maintenance requirements in comparison with other traditional technologies are some of the main advantages of HyET Hydrogen’s technology. The wide pressure ranges that can be handled in one single stage, the high turndown ratios and the minimal start-up time required make HyET’s equipment an attractive product in comparison to the currently available hydrogen compression and separation technologies.
Furthermore, its capacity of compressing and purifying hydrogen in a single-stage automatically positions HyET’s technology as a game changer technology, offering solutions to a broad variety of applications: H2 recycling in industrial processes (refinery, steel industry, etc.), H2 purification for mobility purposes, H2 purification from LOHC processes, etc.
These benefits make HyET’s technology ideal for hydrogen recycling in industrial processes (e.g., refineries, steel manufacturing), hydrogen purification for mobility solutions, and hydrogen extraction from gas mixtures in LOHC processes. It can even extract pure hydrogen from gas mixtures where its concentration is below 1% (v/v), with negligible loss rates. Unlike traditional separation methods like PSA, which require large adsorption beds and result in hydrogen losses, HyET’s approach is highly efficient and sustainable.
Enhancing production with Fontijne Presses
To meet growing production demands, HyET Hydrogen integrated the Fontijne Presses LabEcon 600 laboratory press, a double-daylight press that significantly improves manufacturing efficiency.
This laboratory press features:
- 400 x 400 mm pressing plates
- Maximum temperature of 250°C
- 600 kN pressing force
- Programmable 8” touchscreen control
- 2 x 75 mm daylight opening
Fontijne Presses plays a crucial role in optimizing HyET’s production by providing precise and reliable pressing solutions tailored to their needs. The pressing process involves laminating multiple material layers to create high-quality MEAs.
With Fontijne Presses’ technology, HyET has achieved:
- Higher component quality – Improved consistency and performance of laminated MEAs.
- Increased efficiency – A 30% reduction in production time.
- Scalability – A robust pressing process suited for both small-series production and future scale-up.
During a demo at the in-house demo lab of Fontijne Presses, the process was fine-tuned for HyET’s specific application. The workflow involves pressing the sample in the upper (heated) section at 137°C, then moving it to the lower (cooled) section to cool down to 35°C. The cooling plates maintain a constant temperature, enabling a straightforward cooling process. While transitioning between heating and cooling, there is a brief moment where no pressure is applied, but testing confirmed that this does not negatively impact the final product.
The optimized process follows these steps:
- Pressing the sample in the upper daylight section (heated).
- Opening the press and transferring the sample to the lower daylight section (cooled) for cooling.
- Simultaneously pressing a new sample while the previous one cools, creating a continuous workflow.
The role of Fontijne Presses in process optimization
Fontijne Presses played a key role in selecting the right press for HyET Hydrogen’s needs. The proactive approach ensured a deep understanding of HyET’s processes, allowing them to match specific requirements with the most suitable equipment.
One of the key advantages of Fontijne Presses is its dedicated demo lab, where companies can test different press configurations to determine the best setup for their applications. By leveraging the expertise of the sales team and reliable and accurate press technology from Fontijne Presses, HyET Hydrogen has successfully optimized its production process, paving the way for further scale-up and expansion.
