Improving Hydrogen Compressor Quality, Strengthening Mass-Production Capabilities and Reducing Costs

「The company shipped the initial units developed for the new series of compressors with a discharge pressure rating of approximately 20 MPaG for hydrogen filling: 1 VD4-55 unit and 3 VD4-150 units.」

「製品ラインナップ拡充によりブランドを強化し、長期的には圧縮機全体でのブランド化につなげる」

「This is a unique product incorporating advanced technologies used in our compressors for hydrogen stations and covers a discharge flow rate range of 100–600Nm3/h. We will continue assessing market needs, expand the lineup to a maximum of 1000Nm3/h and pursue development to address more specific customer requirements.」

「The VD4-250GH-OL was developed to handle a discharge flow rate of 1000Nm3/h at a discharge pressure of 20MPaG. In addition, we are remodeling our existing VD4-55 and VD4-150 models and expanding and refining the lineup of a new series incorporating advanced technologies used in our compressors for hydrogen stations, covering discharge flow rates of 100–1000Nm3/h, compared with a previous maximum of 600Nm3/h, to better address specific market needs.」

「Going forward, the requirements for our products in achieving a carbon-neutral society will be to make equipment more compact, reduce costs and extend the service life of consumable parts, which have long been challenges for ultra-high-pressure compressors. In addition, compressors for hydrogen stations for fuel-cell trucks and compressors required to bring ammonia synthesis facilities into commercial use will need greater capacity. We will continue developing products that meet these needs.」

「The main factors were increases of ¥429 million in electronically recorded monetary claims, ¥433 million in work in process and ¥482 million in property, plant and equipment resulting from completion of the head-office integrated assembly plant, among other factors, despite decreases of ¥320 million in cash and deposits and ¥261 million in notes receivable.」

「This was due to a ¥530 million increase in property, plant and equipment following completion of the head office's integrated assembly plant.」

「Total assets at the end of the first quarter stood at ¥10,185 million, an increase of ¥501 million from the end of the previous fiscal year. The main factor was a ¥530 million increase in other property, plant and equipment, due to an increase in construction in progress related to the head office's integrated assembly plant.」

「The commissioning facilities for medium- and small-sized compressors (Phase 2 construction) are not yet complete, but the commissioning facilities for large compressors (Phase 1 construction) were completed in July 2021 and have been operational since that month.」

「This was due to a ¥1,708 million increase in property, plant and equipment following the partial completion of the head office's integrated assembly plant.」

「The first phase of construction of the testing facility for large compressors was completed in July 2021 and began operating that month, although the second phase of construction of the testing facility for medium- and small-sized compressors remains incomplete.」

「We deployed the ultra-high-pressure hydrogen patent obtained in fiscal 2019, Patent No. 6533631, Gas Compressor and Method for Manufacturing Gas Compressor, in our products and successfully extended the piston ring replacement interval to more than twice its previous length. We also developed sulfur-free piston rings and successfully improved the quality of the compressed hydrogen.」

「The market expects further compact designs and cost reductions for hydrogen station compressors and package units, as well as higher quality and longer service life for consumable parts. The company will continue developing products that meet these needs in pursuit of a hydrogen-based society.」

「We have continued endurance testing during the current fiscal year and will conduct verification to improve quality in order to meet the various specifications required by the market. Market launch is expected in fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2021, depending in part on market conditions.」

「The development test unit for an ultra-high-pressure hydrogen compressor for a new hydrogen station was completed in the previous fiscal year, and the current fiscal year entered the validation operation stage.」

「While retaining the conventional technology, the company changed the cylinder configuration from 3 cylinders to 2 and achieved a more compact design by downsizing individual components. The design also takes maintenance into consideration. Trial operation was conducted in December 2017, confirming that the planned performance requirements were met. In FY2018, the company planned to conduct durability testing to verify quality improvements, with commercialisation planned for FY2019.」

「The company will work toward further compact designs and cost reductions and develop products targeting mass production in pursuit of a hydrogen-based society.」

「During the current fiscal year, the company added testing locations and conducted actual-gas leak inspections on every compressor during pre-shipment testing, thereby improving quality and strengthening its mass-production capabilities. It will continue developing products for mass production, including package-type systems combining compressors with the refrigeration systems required at future hydrogen stations to cool hydrogen gas before filling FCVs, as well as further compact designs and cost reductions.」