MIT-WPU Team Develops Safe System to Transport Hydrogen

A major hurdle for clean hydrogen fuel may have just been solved. Researchers at MIT World Peace University have developed a groundbreaking new system. It safely transports hydrogen as a stable liquid at normal temperature and pressure. This could revolutionize India's green energy supply chain.

The LOHC System Converts Hydrogen into a Safe Liquid

The technology is called a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC). It works through a two-stage chemical process. First, hydrogen gas is chemically bonded into a special organic liquid. This turns the explosive gas into a non-flammable, easy-to-handle liquid. At its destination, the hydrogen is safely released, and the carrier liquid can be reused.

LOHC Uses Existing Fuel Trucks and Pipelines

This is the biggest advantage. The hydrogen-rich liquid can be transported using regular fuel tankers. It could use existing storage tanks and pipelines. This eliminates the need for expensive, high-pressure cylinders or complex cryogenic cooling systems. It drastically cuts the cost and danger of moving hydrogen.

The MIT-WPU Team Achieved Record Speed

The Indian research team achieved a world-class result. Their system stored hydrogen completely in just 2 hours. Previous global research took 18 hours. It also operated at a lower temperature and pressure than typical methods. Their carrier liquid is highly efficient, holding close to 11,000 litres of hydrogen in just 15.6 litres of fluid.

The Project Was Built from Scratch in India

This was a true "Make in India" innovation. A company, Ohm Cleantech, approached the university with an unsolved challenge. There was no existing documented method. The team, led by Professor Dr Rajib Kumar Sinharay, had to build the entire process from the ground up over ten months of persistent trials.

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LOHC Could Accelerate India's Green Hydrogen Mission

The implications are huge. Safe, low-cost transport removes a major barrier to using hydrogen. It can become a practical fuel for heavy industry, trucks, and buses. This breakthrough directly supports India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and its goal of energy independence.

A Leap Toward a Hydrogen-Powered Future

This innovation is more than a lab success. It is a practical solution to a critical real-world problem. By making hydrogen as easy to move as diesel or petrol, MIT-WPU's system could be the key that unlocks India's clean hydrogen economy.

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