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ArcelorMittal Selects Air Products Technology for On-site Gas Production

The contract was awarded on the strength of Air Products’ 50 years of experience and management expertise in the industry, along with the modular design and proven reliability of the equipment. The plant is now fully operational.
 
Pictured below: Air Products PRISM® PHG100 Hydrogen Gas Generators
at ArcelorMittal Plant in Southern France
 
Air Products, a global leader in the supply and on-site production of hydrogen, has developed a range of compact and low to medium capacity steam methane reformers (SMR). This technology converts steam and lighter hydrocarbons, such as methane, into hydrogen and carbon monoxide efficiently and economically. Additionally, the PRISM® PHGs have a number of positive benefits. They provide an alternative source of industrial gas supply to trailers (bulk hydrogen) for supply to customers in remote locations. They also reduce logistics costs and, as a result, the carbon footprint associated with regular truck rotations while preventing supply disruption.
 
As the ArcelorMittal Saint Chély d'Apcher plant is not suited for the storage of large amounts of gaseous hydrogen, Air Products’ on-site modular concept of three hydrogen generators provides an attractive alternative. The system has been designed with flexibility in mind and will operate at the required capacity even when one of the generators is off-line. Each generator can operate at 50% capacity, therefore offering flow rates from 50 Nm3/h up to 300 Nm3/h.
 
In addition to hydrogen, Air Products supplies the plant’s nitrogen requirements through a PRISM® cryogenic generator using a unique technology of distillation to produce high-purity nitrogen. To ensure continuous supply of the gas, two nitrogen backup storage tanks and four vaporizers have been installed to support the generator.
 
Both hydrogen and nitrogen are used during the heat treatment of grain oriented electrical steels which, among other uses, are used in electric engines and wind turbines. This solution not only helps to optimise production efficiency, it also contributes to lower carbon dioxide emissions at the plant.
 
As well as designing, fabricating and installing the entire modular system, Air Products provides technical support and telemetry to monitor the system.
 

Air Products provides atmospheric, process and specialty gases; performance materials; equipment; and technology. For over 70 years, the company has enabled customers to become more productive, energy efficient and sustainable. Recognized as one of the world’s most innovative companies by both Thomson Reuters and Forbes magazine, more than 20,000 employees in over 50 countries supply effective solutions to the energy, environment and emerging markets. These include semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, coal gasification, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. In fiscal 2013, Air Products had sales of US$10.2 billion.