With a passion for constant technological advancement and high-quality innovation, GTC Co., Ltd. has been leading the development and globalization of domestic compressor technology for the past 48 years. Through ongoing collaboration with the Construction Machinery Parts Research Institute, the company is concentrating and significantly assisting in the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem.

With a focus on green technology, worldwide networking, and cooperation, GTC is a leading eco-friendly technology firm in the energy sector.

• Two applications, one international PCT application, one design registration, and seventeen patent registrations
• “Getting European CE Certification” in order to expand internationally “Countdown to becoming an international business”
• The production of the hydrogen delivery system using green hydrogen is finished, and it will go into business the following month.

Since its founding as Shinil Machinery in 1975, GTC Co., Ltd. has established itself as a leader in the gas compressor industry with technology that is respected both nationally and internationally. As such, it is currently offering the best technology, best quality, and best quality based on strong technology and quality competitiveness. By providing top-notch services, we are maintaining our position as the top compressor manufacturer in Korea.

To be specific, the company first installed a high-pressure gas compressor for hydrogen at Korea PTG’s Ulsan plant in 1998. Later, in 2000, it produced and installed Korea’s first ultra-high pressure air compressor at Samsung SDI’s Yangsan plant, showcasing its exceptional technological prowess.

The company then went on to introduce Korea’s largest hydrogen gas compressor in 2013 and a CNG charging station compressor in 2007, respectively. In 2019, the company managed to develop compression packages and systems and upgrade important components, reaffirming its reputation as a technology-oriented business.

The 17 patent registrations, 2 applications, 1 international PCT application, and 1 design registration that have been held up to this point attest to this.

Externally, the company’s technological prowess is acknowledged by its selection as a Global Small Giant Company 100+ and a hydrogen specialized company in 2023, as well as by the Excellent Corporate Research Institute (ATC+), Gyeongnam Star Company, and Gyeongnam ‘100 Regional Innovation Leading Companies’ in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

In order to expand its export channels by focusing on countries in the European Union, GTC Co., Ltd. is currently in ongoing discussions with TÜV, a certification agency, regarding the international expansion of hydrogen compressors. The company is also attempting to obtain European CE certification for the first time in Korea. We’re working harder than ever to provide the groundwork for a major advancement.

Core technology

In order to advance the hydrogen economy and ensure the company’s sustainability, GTC Co., Ltd. has concentrated its efforts since the second half of 2017 on developing hydrogen compressors. In 2019, the company became the only one in Korea to develop the “Hydraulic Type Hydrogen Compressor” using only domestic technology. successfully constructed a test facility for hydrogen compressors that mimics a hydrogen fueling station.

An essential equipment for storing hydrogen gas at high pressure and transferring it to hydrogen fuel cell cars at a pressure of 70 MPa is this hydrogen compressor. GTC Co., Ltd. is using a hydraulically powered piston type. One benefit of the compressor is that its distinct hydraulic and gas compression parts prevent oil from contaminating the gas, and its straightforward design facilitates easy maintenance.

This double-tube heat exchanger structure ensures stability and efficiency even when compressing gas at ultra-high pressures of 90 MPa or more. The gas compression cylinder is wrapped in a cooling jacket, which lowers the temperature of the gas first and subsequently through the connection pipes at each stage. It’s safe to lock it down.

Specifically, by modifying the cylinder’s size and stroke, large-capacity compression may be achieved, and the minimal number of reciprocations lessens noise and vibration.

These benefits have led to the certification of this hydrogen compressor technology as a new technology (NET) and as a new product (NEP). It is considered a suitable technology for developing a hydrogen charging infrastructure that can serve all large vehicles, including cars, buses, and trucks. It was recognized by the Public Procurement Service as an innovative product.

In particular, we constructed and ran the Seongju hydrogen charging station directly, using a hydrogen compressor with a suction pressure of 3 to 20 MPa, a discharge pressure of 90 MPa or more, and a processing capacity of 60 kg per hour. This station can charge around 30 buses for 15 hours a day. Indeed, there is.

Following that, GTC Co., Ltd. visited other domestic hydrogen charging stations to determine issues and requirements during operation. After doing a comprehensive analysis, the problem of charging inconvenience brought on by a significant amount of time needed for maintenance when a hydrogen charging station breaks down was resolved, along with an increase in the hydrogen charging station’s rate of operation. A “composite compressor” was suggested as a solution to address issues including slow reaction times and response constraints in the case of an accident.

In the case of a charging station failure, a compressor known as a “composite compressor” can swiftly return to regular functioning. It is a composite compressor that uses a medium-pressure two-stage diaphragm compression technique and a high-pressure piston one-stage two-cylinder piston compression method for ultra-high pressure hydrogen charging stations of 70 kg/h or more and 100 MPa. everything.

The creation of a compression package with a sophisticated compressor was finished in 2022. The Seongju Hydrogen Charging Station improved the whole system in 2023, and the demonstration operation was successfully finished.

On the other hand, in 2019, we took part in the “Mobile Hydrogen Charging Station Performance Evaluation and Safety Management Technology Development Project” in collaboration with DR Co., Ltd., Genstem Co., Ltd., Chungbuk Techno Park, and Korea Gas Safety Corporation Gas Safety Research Institute. By creating a “Korean-type mobile hydrogen charging station” and effectively bringing it to market in 2022, it gained notice.

In addition, we will begin to take part in the ‘Development of guidelines for on-site performance evaluation of compressors at hydrogen charging stations’ in 2021. Our research will concentrate on creating standards and systems that can assess the performance of compressors, which are currently the central components of hydrogen charging stations, while also creating guidelines for the safety inspection and maintenance of compressors. I’m carrying it out.

By the time this study concludes in October, domestic manufacturers of hydrogen parts and equipment should be technologically competitive. Complex performance evaluations, including real-time efficiency, economic feasibility, and risk assessment of hydrogen charging station compressors, should also be made.

Beginning in 2020, we will be working with Jeju Energy Corporation on the project “Development and demonstration of 600kg hydrogen and 2MWh battery storage system technology using renewable energy-linked green hydrogen production technology” to showcase our unique design and construction skills.

We have finished designing and building the main apparatus needed to distribute hydrogen generated as green hydrogen for the first time in Korea, and we are now starting the process of operation and verification. The shipping facility is scheduled to open for business in May.

Furthermore, we took part in the research on “Advancement of hybrid hydrogen compressors and integrated control systems for expansion of Korean hydrogen charging systems” as part of the Excellent Technology Research Center (ATC+) project (selected by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), as well as localized production of key components for piston compression packages and DIA. We are carrying out a number of experiments, such as optimizing performance by modifying the Fram compressor cavity’s shape, designing and manufacturing an integrated control all-in-one module, and validating and enhancing the intelligent integrated control system.

According to GTC Co., Ltd., once this technology development is finished, it will be feasible to operate an effective and stable hydrogen charging station by implementing an intelligent integrated control system and to ensure stability and reliability through the advancement of hydrogen compressor component materials.


Interview
‘All-in-one charging system’ from hydrogen production to storage charging to be introduced next year

GTC Co., Ltd. CEO Lee Won-jin said, “GTC Co., Ltd. believes that a transition to a hydrogen economic society is absolutely necessary to reduce fine dust and carbon dioxide, which are global issues, and has been planning to apply it to hydrogen charging stations, a future high value-added industry, since 2017. “We are working on developing a hydrogen compressor that can do this,” he said.

He continued, “Through three years of research, we succeeded in developing a hydraulic piston-type ‘high-pressure large-capacity hydrogen compressor,’ and are manufacturing and supplying a product line with various specifications.” He added, “Based on this technology, we are currently producing, storing, and charging hydrogen.” “We are working on developing an ‘all-in-one charging system’ that can do all of this,” he said.

GTC Co., Ltd. plans to complete development in 2025 and begin building and operating an easy-to-install, simple charging system and integrated control system that can be distributed to city centers and suburban areas.

CEO Lee emphasized, “In particular, we plan to actively promote the expansion of domestic hydrogen charging infrastructure by establishing a system that can safely monitor the hydrogen production and storage process at all times while maximizing convenience and utilization.”

This specialized hydrogen compressor technology and experience in building the Seongju hydrogen charging station and mobile trailer hydrogen charging station led to being selected as the lead organization for the ‘Water electrolysis-based 35 MPa S-HRS system development and demonstration project.’

CEO Lee said, “This research is a core technology development task to realize the government’s carbon neutrality and Green New Deal, and GTC Co., Ltd. is developing and demonstrating a water electrolysis hydrogen production and charging system linked to small-capacity renewable energy.” introduced.

The system currently under development is a system that can flexibly control hydrogen production depending on the status of power supply and hydrogen storage, such as solar power and late-night electricity, to respond to insufficient demand for charging stations.

He continued, “In particular, we plan to develop and demonstrate an ‘all-in-one charging system’ that can cover hydrogen production, storage, and charging by applying the water electrolysis method using solar power and new and renewable energy for the first time in Korea.”

Promoting verification of hydrogen production facilities with a capacity of more than 10kg per day in June

In fact, GTC Co., Ltd. plans to self-produce more than 10 kg of hydrogen per day by applying the highly efficient AEM water electrolysis method and to build it in a compact structure smaller than the size of the existing public parking lot. Starting in June, it will be tested at the Gyeongnam Energy Corporation parking lot site. I’m planning to go out.

CEO Lee said, “When development is completed in 2025, we plan to build and operate an easy-to-install, simple charging system and integrated control system to maximize convenience and utilization with the goal of distributing it to the city center and suburban areas.”

Meanwhile, CEO Lee said, “GTC Co., Ltd., with differentiated technology, currently produces products that reflect customer needs, such as various gas compressors such as high-pressure air, natural gas (CNG), carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen, as well as dispensers, storage tanks, and dryers. “We are realizing customer satisfaction by producing and providing them,” he said.

He continued, “We are currently providing customers with industrial gas compressors, hydrogen charging stations, and compressors for hydraulic piston and diaphragm type hydrogen shipping facilities,” adding, “In particular, we are engaged in manufacturing, design, marketing, and service for all types of compressor business. “We are establishing ourselves as a reliable partner for our customers.”

Source: ‘Technological competitiveness’ opens the era of hydrogen-type compressors in 50 years of history: Construction Technology News – https://www.ctman.kr/30579