Japan-based Thermalytica invented a super insulating material that makes shipping and storing liquid hydrogen more efficient and cost-effective.
TIISA (thermal insulation inflatable solid air), a proprietary substance with high porosity and liquid-like fluidity, provides outstanding thermal insulation and heat shielding for liquid hydrogen logistics (transport and storage), house window insulation, and EV battery thermal runaway mitigation. Japan will pilot the technology in April 2024.
Rudder Wu, creator and CTO of Thermalytica, invented TIISA, a silicon dioxide aerogel-like material that reduces hydrogen boil-off losses from liquid hydrogen storage.
TIISA’s lab scale manufacturing in Japan is 500kg/year. Around three tonnes of pilot production capacity is planned for Japan by 2023. To address TIISA demand in the US and Taiwan, Thermalytica expects to develop commercial manufacturing by 2025.
At 1mW/mK at slightly reduced pressure, TIISA has very low thermal conductivity. The composite mixture’s thermal conductivity drops from 30-40 mW/mK to 18 mW/mK when combined with standard thermal insulating materials.
Insulation is also important to battle climate change and energy crisis. TIISA can be used in housing, building, cryogenic hydrogen transportation, and national defense. Super insulation can hold liquefied hydrogen at ultra-low temperatures to reduce boil-off losses, improve air-conditioning efficiency, and accelerate green energy adoption.
Hydrogen transportation and storage are promising TIISA use cases. Thermalytica anticipates a US$45bn market for aerogel in hydrogen transportation and storage by 2030. By the same year, aerogel in EV batteries will be worth US$23bn.
As part of its carbon-neutrality plan, Japan has invested heavily in liquid hydrogen delivery and storage. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has also invested $8 billion in regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs).
