Luxfer's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Success:Collaborative Case Study with Swagelok

Case Study:Swagelok’s Spirit of Collaboration Enables Hydrogen Fuel Solutions for Luxfer

由于车上装有多个高压易燃气体罐，因此对于在人口稠密的城市街道上行驶的氢燃料电池公交车和卡车来说，安全是第一要务。 Safety must be engineered into the entire vehicle—especially its fuel delivery system. Each system component must be tested to ensure it meets stringent standards. Vehicle manufacturers are obliged to put their trust in suppliers to deliver consistently safe, leak-free hydrogen systems.

Luxfer Gas Cylinders is dedicated to meeting both safety and efficiency requirements for their alternative fuel (AF) customers.作为全球最大的高压铝和复合气瓶制造商，该公司还制造完整的 AF 输送系统，包括将流体从 Luxfer 气瓶输送到车辆发动机或燃料电池的管道、配件、阀门和其他组件。

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推动更清洁的未来

2017年初，欧盟启动了JIVE项目（欧洲氢能汽车联合倡议），总体目标是推进氢燃料电池公交车的商业化。 However, Project JIVE did not solely focus on increasing the number of hydrogen vehicles on the road.该倡议还强调围绕氢市场建设整体基础设施——增加加氢站的数量，培训公众如何处理氢，以及维护当前运行的车辆。

通过 JIVE 项目减少车辆排放成为 Luxfer 的一项迫切使命，Luxfer 是英国曼彻斯特一家领先的高度工程先进材料制造商。为了降低氢燃料公交车的价格，Luxfer 知道他们将改变为氢气和压缩天然气 (CNG) 应用创建气缸系统的方式。随着 CNG 和氢动力汽车的需求急剧增加，Luxfer 需要一家经过 EC-79 认证的供应商，以履行其对汽车制造客户的义务。 The company found a collaborative fluid systems provider in Swagelok.

认证之旅

EC-79 is a certification used within the European Union for classified, untested products suitable for use on a hydrogen vehicle. If a hydrogen system is operating at a pressure above 30 bar, it is required that all products on the system are EC-79 approved.

The journey towards an EC-79 certification required heavy effort and deep commitment. Very few Luxfer component suppliers were willing to pursue the accreditation. The hydrogen fuel project was due to Luxfer’s customers in 14 months—giving suppliers little time to earn an EC-79 certification. Swagelok Manchester, however, heard Luxfer’s concerns and stepped up to the challenge.

“Swagelok managed to get it done,” said Alex Millward, AF Technical Manager for Luxfer. “对我来说，他们做了不可能的事。”

替代燃料行业的认证意义重大，因为它们证明世伟洛克等供应商符合该行业必要的安全性和可靠性资格。虽然该认证需要世伟洛克曼彻斯特、Luxfer 和世伟洛克公司团队之间进行大量工作和协作，但共同努力为 Luxfer 及其最终客户带来了出色的成果。 Swagelok Manchester proved themselves to not only be a reliable component supplier, but a trusted solutions-provider.

“当 Luxfer 与世伟洛克合作创建定制解决方案时，就消除了一定的风险因素，”世伟洛克曼彻斯特销售经理 Gavin Pettifer 表示。 “They know the job is going to be done safely and correctly while also reducing some production costs.”

主动协作

尽管世伟洛克曼彻斯特与 Luxfer 的关系早在 JIVE 项目发起之前几年就开始了，但这两个组织一致认为，他们在 EC-79 认证和随后的歧管氢气系统方面的合作将两家公司的关系提升到了新的高度。

“世伟洛克曼彻斯特公司多年来一直与 Luxfer 开展业务，主要是在交易层面，”世伟洛克曼彻斯特公司董事总经理 Jon Hall 说道。 “但随着他们参与氢系统计划，我们开始更积极地合作，以获得 EC-79 批准。从其他流体系统组件供应商的服务和供应链角度来看，他们遇到了重大困难。”

Swagelok and Luxfer’s shared emphasis on quality is integral to continued success of the business relationship between the two organizations. For Luxfer, it was of utmost importance that they work with an organization that aligned with their core values. Luxfer 很高兴地发现世伟洛克不仅提供卓越的品质和高水平的服务，而且在公司开展业务的方式上也具有共同的价值观。

“Swagelok is our solutions provider,” proudly states Lewis Anderson, European Alternative Fuel Manager for Luxfer. “我们始终让世伟洛克参与设计过程的开始，以确保我们为客户提供最具创新性和经济上可行的产品。世伟洛克始终首先考虑解决方案，然后才是销售。”

The Final Result:Cleaner, Greener Buses

世伟洛克曼彻斯特和 Luxfer 项目合作的最终成果是获得 EC-79 认证的氢燃料歧管输送系统，该系统采用世伟洛克接头、阀门、管道和其他相关流体系统组件。 Today, there are currently 144 hydrogen fuel cell buses operating as a direct result of this project.

虽然当前的歧管系统在 350 bar 的压力下运行，但该行业需要 700 bar 的市场只是时间问题——允许公交车在加油前行驶两倍的里程。

“We’re just scratching the surface on what we can do,” says Anderson. “我们才刚刚开始。”

随着氢燃料电池公交车出现在欧洲越来越多的街道上，乘客们应该放心，公交车的动力系统经过了最高水平的细节和维护。伦敦等城市希望到 2050 年实现 100% 零排放，世伟洛克曼彻斯特和 Luxfer 之间的持续合作对于为所有人创造更清洁的环境至关重要。

“Luxfer has seen nearly 100% business growth in the last three years,” states Hall. “As the demand for hydrogen-power vehicles grows, they’re only going to grow with it.”

Learn how you can solve your organization’s toughest fluid system challenges with Swagelok® Custom Solutions. Contact your local Swagelok sales and service center for more information.

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关于 Luxfer 气瓶

Luxfer Gas Cylinders 是全球最大的高压铝制和复合气瓶制造商，总部位于英国曼彻斯特。 The organization creates products that help protect lives, safeguard the environment, and run businesses more efficiently. Luxfer Gas Cylinders helps make our environment cleaner with alternative fuel storage on vehicles and in other specialty applications.