Innovation
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction innovates across all its areas of activity, balancing its drive for innovation with a commitment to preserve and maintain core products. By combining this pragmatic approach with technical creativity, our teams deliver unique solutions that make a real difference to our customers. Here are just a few examples of recent innovations.
First ever CO<sub>2</sub> cryogenic capture system
In late 2015, Air Liquide inaugurated the world's first CO2 capture facility based on cryogenic process technology. Installed at the Air Liquide Group's hydrogen production unit in Normandy, France, the Cryocap™ solution is a unique innovation that has the capacity to capture 100 000 tons of CO2 annually at this site, improving the site's efficiency, reducing its environmental footprint and increasing hydrogen production rates.
World’s largest Air Separation Unit
By constructing the largest Air Separation Unit (ASU) to date, Air Liquide Engineering & Construction is marking the history of industrial gas production. Located in Secunda, South Africa, the ASU is being designed and built using state-of-the-art technologies. Integrating the results from decades of development work, it will have a total capacity of 5 000 tons of oxygen per day – equivalent to 5 800 tons daily at sea level.
Most integrated technology chain for helium production
With a production capacity of 38 million cubic meters per year, the helium purification and liquefaction unit delivered in Qatar by Air Liquide Engineering & Construction is the biggest in the world. Proprietary technologies enable the helium to be purified and liquefied at the very low temperature of -269°C.
World's largest hydrogen plant
Basing on our latest developments and composed of two global-scale hydrogen production units and one purification unit, the Yanbu Industrial City site in Saudi Arabia is the world's largest hydrogen plant with a total capacity of 340,000 Normal cubic meters per hour (Nm³/hour). It was designed and built by Air Liquide Engineering & Construction using proprietary technology and equipment design, increasing the Group's hydrogen production capacity by around 20%.
Creating methanol-to-propylene technology
The Lurgi MTPTM (methanol-to-propylene) process was developed by Air Liquide Engineering & Construction in close cooperation with R&D as an innovative way of producing valuable propylene without relying on crude oil as a feedstock. Using alternative feedstock such as natural gas, it is built around proprietary technology. Recent improvements in the catalyst and in terms of integration with upstream technology have helped further enhance the process.