"Make the difference" - this is the motto of this year's HANNOVER MESSE from 17 to 21 April. As part of the trade fair, the Technical Forum Hydrogen + Fuel Cells EUROPE will run in parallel, where exhibitors will present their latest developments and products in short talks. The forum has meanwhile established itself as an important industry meeting place for the latest developments in the international market and gives innovations such as the first TÜV-certified hydrogen recirculation blower MINK MH from the Maulburg-based vacuum expert Busch the perfect stage to prove itself as the optimal solution for use in fuel cells.

What is a hydrogen recirculation blower anyway?

Hydrogen recirculation blowers play a central role in the function of the fuel cell system, as they feed the hydrogen not consumed during the reaction in the cell back into the stack. This increases the efficiency of the fuel cell and at the same time extends its service life. According to Busch, the MINK MH 0018 A recirculation blower guarantees optimal recirculation of the hydrogen within fuel cells of up to 45 kilowatts power. With a lower recirculation rate, this blower can also be used with fuel cells up to 60 kilowatts. For larger fuel cells, it is also possible to operate several blowers in parallel. Due to its small dimensions, the MINK hydrogen recirculation blower can be installed directly in the fuel cell module.

Highest efficiency thanks to automatic adjustment

The new blower is equipped with an intelligent variable speed drive. This allows the volume flow to be automatically adjusted to the actual demand of the fuel cell, thus achieving the highest efficiency. The MINK hydrogen recirculation blower can be operated without any problems at hydrogen temperatures from -30 to +85 degrees Celsius and ambient temperatures from -30 to +95 degrees Celsius. It is therefore suitable for mobile use in vehicles as well as for stationary fuel modules.

Proven technology used innovatively

The MINK hydrogen recirculation blower works according to the proven claw principle. Compression is completely oil-free and contactless. Two claw-shaped rotors rotate in opposite directions in a housing. Due to the shape of these claw rotors, the already pre-compressed hydrogen is sucked in and further compressed by a maximum of 0.4 bar and fed back to the hydrogen supply upstream of the anode. Small gaps between the claw rotors and towards the housing optimise the internal sealing. A special coating on all parts exposed to hydrogen prevents corrosion due to the proportion of deionised water vapour that is also conveyed. A synchronisation gear ensures the exact synchronisation of the claw rotors. It is lubricated for life by the special oil it contains. An oil change or other maintenance work is therefore not necessary.

Not only the TÜV has extensively tested and certified the hydrogen recirculation blower MINK MH 0018 A from Busch. In Shanghai, more than 2,000 hydrogen-powered buses have already been successfully equipped with this blower.

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