Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center

Facilities

As a leading company in the hydrogen business, we started handling hydrogen in 1941, attained many research-based firsts for Japan, and pioneered new markets for liquid hydrogen involving high-capacity transportation and storage. As Japan’s sole supplier of liquid hydrogen, the Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center serves as the base for our company’s technical research. The center is equipped with a testing environment unparalleled in Japan to allow the handling of liquid hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures of -253°C and ultra-high pressure hydrogen gas pressurized up to 135 MPa. We have applied these advanced testing facilities to undertake a broad range of hydrogen research and development and to promote technological verifications for real-world applications.

Liquid Hydrogen Laboratory
Ultra-High Pressure Hydrogen Laboratory

Liquid Hydrogen Laboratory

Tests Conducted in Liquid Hydrogen Atmosphere

Thermal Cycle Test: A thermal durability test is performed by repeatedly exposing a test piece to the following cycle: liquid hydrogen temperature (−253°C) ↔ normal temperature. The test can be used to verify the effects of liquid surface disturbances aboard the liquefied hydrogen carriers in the Lignite Project in Australia.

Liquid Hydrogen Immersion Test: A test piece is immersed in liquid hydrogen for an extended period to observe the deterioration and other conditions. The test evaluates the performance of materials used for transportation and storage of liquid hydrogen over prolonged periods (for example, materials used in instruments on liquefied hydrogen carriers).

Liquid Hydrogen Circulation Test: Hydrogen circulates between two liquid hydrogen containers to allow observations of the behavior and confirm the performance of devices such as valves and flexible hoses. To ensure safety, recommendations call for tests to be performed at the temperatures of actual use (−253°C).

Apparatus for liquid hydrogen immersion and thermal cycle tests
Liquid hydrogen laboratory
Control room

Ultra-High Pressure Hydrogen Laboratory

Tests Conducted in Ultra-High Pressure Hydrogen Atmosphere

Impulse (Repeated Pressurization and Depressurization) Test: In this test, valves and flexible hoses are subjected to repeated cycles of pressurization/depressurization with temperature-controlled high-pressure hydrogen. The test can be applied for performance testing of parts expected to undergo such cyclic pressurization/depressurization—for example, filler hoses at hydrogen-refueling stations.

Airtightness and Permeation Test: This test checks for hydrogen permeation and leaks in resin materials and sealants using temperature-controlled high-pressure hydrogen. The test collects basic data, including the hydrogen permeability of resins and leakage measurements of joints—essential parameters for product design.

Hydrogen Exposure (Delayed Crack) Test: Tests pieces such as welding materials are subjected to stress in a cryogenic high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere for extended periods to check for distortion and cracking. The test evaluates the effects of metal fatigue and welding strength under stress.

Hydrogen Embrittlement Test: The results of low-temperature slow strain rate tests in a high-pressure low-temperature hydrogen atmosphere are compared to those for tests performed in a helium atmosphere to evaluate brittleness when exposed to hydrogen. The cause of hydrogen brittleness remains unresolved. By testing various materials, we may eventually be able to develop low-cost hydrogen-compatible materials.

Explosion-proof chamber
Apparatus for cryogenic high-pressure exposure test
Low-temperature slow strain rate testing machine
Ultra-high pressure compressor