The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research Successfully Developed a Low-Pressure 50 L/Day Small Hydrogen Liquefier

Recently, the State Key Laboratory of Cryogenics Science and Technology at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIPC, CAS) has made new progress in the field of small-scale Hydrogen Liquefaction Technology. Following the successful development of a 200 L/day small Hydrogen Liquefier in May 2025, the team led by Wu Jihao and Lü Cui has overcome further challenges to independently develop a low-pressure, open-cycle 50 L/day small hydrogen liquefier featuring continuous ortho-para hydrogen conversion across the full temperature range. The device achieves ortho-hydrogen content ≥99%, a liquefaction rate exceeding that of the previous 60 L/day standard, and a power consumption below 72 kWh/kgLH₂. Its overall performance reaches a domestic leading level, providing an efficient liquid hydrogen solution for laboratories, small UAV test sites, and other applications.

Unlike the previous 200 L/day system, which relied on high-pressure throttling, this new device follows a different technical route. Key innovations include a segmented coupled refrigeration system with no moving parts at cryogenic temperatures and a low-pressure operation coordinated with the hydrogen storage tank, allowing the system to fully utilize buffer gas pressure and significantly reduce compression power consumption and operating costs. A core component is the team’s independently developed integrated ortho-para hydrogen catalytic conversion heat exchanger, which enables efficient cold energy transfer. The exchanger features tapered gas inlet/outlet sections and a large-scale porous microchannel structure, ensuring uniform hydrogen distribution at low flow rates, stable catalyst encapsulation, and efficient collection of condensed liquid. This design both simplifies the system structure and greatly enhances device stability and overall efficiency, with related technologies submitted for independent intellectual property protection.

The 50 L/day small hydrogen liquefier targets the demand for “small-batch, high-precision” liquid hydrogen, offering modularity and easy deployment, making it suitable for university research, in-situ UAV refueling, and remote scientific expeditions. The team will continue to optimize system performance and expand applications in low-altitude economy and advanced scientific research, providing technical support for the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry.

Low-pressure 50 L/day hydrogen liquefier

On-site testing of the low-pressure 50 L/day hydrogen liquefier