Zhangjiagang CIMC Sanctum Cryogenic Equipment Co., a subsidiary of CIMC, has launched China’s inaugural 40 cubic-meter liquid hydrogen tanker truck.
This achievement signifies a notable stride for China in the production, storage, transportation, and filling of liquid hydrogen, paving the way for potential demonstrations of liquid hydrogen energy technology in the country.
Liquid hydrogen boasts a significantly higher energy density compared to high-pressure hydrogen, enabling vehicles with equivalent hydrogen tank weights to cover longer distances. The storage of hydrogen as a liquid requires cryogenic temperatures to prevent it from boiling back into a gas, providing an alternative to high-pressure gas storage tanks.
Designed and manufactured by Zhangjiagang CIMC Sanctum Cryogenic Equipment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the world’s largest container producer, China International Marine Containers Group Co (CIMC), the 40 cubic-meter liquid hydrogen tanker truck is a key addition to China’s hydrogen transportation landscape. The launch of this tanker marks a significant moment as, until now, China lacked the necessary liquid hydrogen transportation capacity for commercial use.
The research and development of this liquid hydrogen tanker truck involved the formulation of several national standards, including the “Mobile Vacuum Insulated Liquid Hydrogen Pressure Vessel.” Zhangjiagang CIMC Sanctum Cryogenic Equipment Co., Ltd. has been at the forefront of innovation, driving progress in hydrogen technology.
This technological leap received both technological and financial backing from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China under the national crucial research and development project titled “Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Energy Technology” – specifically focusing on the “Key Equipment and Safety Research for Liquid Hydrogen Preparation, Storage, Transportation, and Refueling.”
The overarching goal of this project is to establish a nationwide innovation network for key technologies and equipment related to liquid hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. Addressing the critical requirements for hydrogen fuel preparation, transmission, distribution, and filling for large-scale operations of hydrogen-fueled commercial vehicles in China is a key focus. As of the end of 2023, the project has seen the development of essential equipment such as heavy-duty hydrogen turbine expanders, along with integration and control technology packages.
Parallelly, China is witnessing the construction of its first liquid hydrogen production plant in Zhejiang province by Air Products, adding to the momentum of the country’s hydrogen energy ambitions.
