From August 5th to 6th, the "Hydrogen Station Application" standard initiated by the China Petroleum and Petrochemical Equipment Industry Association entered the data research stage. Matorly actively provided product and data support for the establishment of this standard, working together with the initiating unit to jointly promote the establishment and improvement of industry standards in the hydrogen energy sector.

The connection part of this research activity mainly involves on-site investigation of hydrogen refueling stations and the use and maintenance of key pipe and valve components for hydrogen refueling station construction. Through in-depth understanding of the operation record data of hydrogen refueling stations and the production and working principles of pipe and valve components, the standards mentioned in the previous text can be established with solid evidence and be scientific and reliable.

The first stop of our research was the integrated hydrogen production and refueling station located in Mawan Power Plant, Nanshan District, Shenzhen. This station is the first integrated hydrogen production and refueling station in Shenzhen that has been open to the public in history, with a scale of over 20 million yuan. As one of the first hydrogen energy demonstration projects in Shenzhen, it covers four links in the hydrogen energy development chain: hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization (hydrogen refueling). (The Mawan hydrogen refueling station is currently temporarily not open to the public due to business adjustment and upgrade.)

▲the Ma Wan Hydrogen Refueling Station

At the Ma Wan Hydrogen Refueling Station, Station Chief Cheng of Ma Wan Station gave us a detailed introduction to the current hydrogen production and refueling equipment in the station, as well as the operation norms. He also briefly discussed the development trend and prospects of hydrogen energy in China. As a green and clean energy, hydrogen energy has shown an explosive growth momentum in China under the push of policies and capital. From upstream hydrogen production to midstream sales and operation, and downstream various applications, the industry is about to enter a golden development stage.

In terms of the market space for hydrogen energy vehicles and their upstream and downstream industrial chains in China over the next 20 years, various domestic institutions have estimated it to reach a scale of hundreds of billions. As the power supply stations for hydrogen energy vehicles, hydrogen refueling stations play a crucial role in promoting the commercialization of hydrogen energy. Currently, there are nearly 500 hydrogen refueling stations built in China. Obtaining on-site information about the various pipe and valve components needed for the construction of hydrogen refueling stations and their usage is the main purpose of our visit to Mawan.

When discussing the challenges that the establishment of the "Hydrogen Refueling Station Application" standard poses to pipe and valve components, several points mentioned by Station Chief Cheng resonated strongly with us:

"For valves used in hydrogen refueling stations, it is essential to focus on product quality, use good materials, and be able to withstand the tests of hydrogen refueling stations!"

"Security is our top concern. We conduct leakage checks every day and all these data must be summarized and reported. There is no room for carelessness!"

“What we need are products with relevant certifications, such as ISO certifications for the products, professional certifications, and certifications at the national and international levels. “

“Previously, the imported components we chose were really expensive, but their performance didn't meet our expectations. We are also looking forward to the performance of domestic valves! “

"If you can ensure the quality of your products and fill the domestic gap, promoting domestic production and substitution, the prospects for the future should be quite good!"

From the discussion on pipe and valve components, it is not difficult to summarize that in the establishment of the "Hydrogen Refueling Station Application" standard, "safety" is the top priority keyword for users. The on-site research team has conducted multi-dimensional evaluations on the geographical environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) where the pipe and valve components for hydrogen refueling stations are located, as well as their service life, usage frequency, and medium. All of these will be specifically reflected in the "Hydrogen Refueling Station Application" standard.

After leaving the Ma Wan Hydrogen Refueling Station, the research team rushed to Matorly's precision processing center in Fuyong, Shenzhen. Here, the research team could get a close look at the production and manufacturing processes of various pipe and valve components used in hydrogen refueling stations.

From the selection of raw materials to the efficient operation of precision processing equipment and the re-inspection with modern high-precision instruments, every meticulous action ensures the reliability and safety of the valves to the greatest extent possible. At the same time, due to a thorough understanding of the production steps and working principles of the valves, there are data references when formulating standards for their use, maintenance, and repair in the future.

Matorly is a professional valve R&D and manufacturing company. It has rich experience in valve research and can propose relatively scientific valve standard contents based on this advantage.

The research team discussed that in the specific division of valve standards, a scoring system could be established based on dozens of dimensions such as valve material, vibration, usage frequency, service life, sealing method, connection method, drive mechanism, leakage detection, crack detection, and daily maintenance. Finally, the valve grades could be classified based on the scores, so that the use of valves has a basis and can be judged by standards, thereby ensuring the safe operation of hydrogen refueling stations.

The global hydrogen energy industry is developing rapidly and is unstoppable. The domestic hydrogen energy industry has also entered a period of rapid development, and hydrogen refueling stations are emerging like mushrooms after rain. The demand for the "Hydrogen Refueling Station Application" standard is becoming increasingly urgent.

Promoting the establishment and healthy development of industry standards is an area that every enterprise in the hydrogen energy field should actively explore. We hope that Matorly can contribute its own experience to the establishment of this standard and promote the early improvement and establishment of domestic hydrogen energy-related application standards.