Obayashi Road / Commencement of hydrogen co-firing burner combustion demonstration experiment to reduce CO2 during compound material production
Hydrogen co-firing burner (verification yard in Saga Prefecture)
Obayashi Road has started a demonstration experiment aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by partially using hydrogen as fuel for burners used in the manufacturing process of asphalt mixture. The co-firing ratio is 70% for city gas, which is the current fuel, and 30% for hydrogen. After verifying the combustion temperature and speed of the hydrogen co-combustion burner at the verification yard and conducting environmental measurements, etc., we will continue verification while installing it at the Kyushu branch northern asphalt mixing plant (Kiyama-cho, Saga prefecture) and operating it.
Most of the energy consumed in the manufacturing process of the heated asphalt mixture is consumed by the aggregate drying and heating processes using combustion burners, and a large amount of CO2 is emitted.
The demonstration experiment will use geothermally derived green hydrogen produced by Obayashi Corporation in Kokonoe Town, Oita Prefecture. The developed hydrogen co-firing burner and related equipment are installed in a verification yard in Saga Prefecture. Since hydrogen is mixed as an alternative fuel, burner combustion control such as combustion temperature and speed, flame propagation and flame holding, and ideal air ratio are checked.
Hiroshi Urabe, General Manager of the Composite Materials Division and General Manager of the Machinery Department of Obayashi Road, said, "The demonstration tests, including environmental measurements, are progressing more smoothly than expected." As the next step, we plan to deliver the actual machine to the company's northern asphalt mixing plant in February, and ship the mixed material in March while continuing the demonstration at the plant in operation.
From May, the experimental plant in the company's equipment center (Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture) will demonstrate aggregate heating efficiency and examine the structure of ancillary equipment. Although there are issues such as the supply of hydrogen, its price, and the development of legislation, Urabe says, "We are aiming for 100% hydrogen fuel in the future."
Moriya Kajiki, General Manager of Project Promotion Department 3, Green Energy Headquarters, Obayashi Corporation, said, "The Obayashi Group is working to build a supply chain that manufactures, transports, and uses hydrogen. It will contribute greatly to decarbonization.”
