Nikkiso Cosmodyne’s BALSA Series Hydrogen Liquefier is a modular, skid-mounted system designed to treat and liquefy hydrogen for liquid hydrogen (LH₂ ) production. The facility can be divided into four major sections:

• feed gas processing,
• hydrogen precooling and liquefaction,
• nitrogen refrigeration system
• hydrogen refrigeration system.

The feed gas processing section compresses the feedstock (optional) and removes any contaminants which would freeze in the nitrogen pre-cooling section.  Once processed, the hydrogen may be safely admitted into the cryogenic system. In this section, the hydrogen is pre-cooled in an aluminum brazed heat exchanger with nitrogen.  It is then liquified through another aluminum brazed heat exchanger against cooling hydrogen.  While being liquefied, the hydrogen contacts a special catalyst to efficiently convert ortho to para hydrogen.  Additionally, prior to entering the hydrogen cooling stage, the hydrogen product stream is treated again to remove any remaining contaminants that can freeze in the coldest section of the plant.   The hydrogen liquid product is saturated at a temperature coincident with a client’s storage operating pressure.  The Nikkiso Cosmodyne BALSA liquefier also fully integrates hydrogen flash gas recovery and may be operated to recover tank boil-off.