BOC and Eastman Chemical Company have commissioned a hydrogen plant, delivered by BOC, at Eastman’s site at Newport in South Wales, UK. The plant will supply sufficient hydrogen to manufacture and support future expansion of Eastman’s Therminol range of heat transfer fluids.
BOC, a member of the Linde Group and the biggest industrial gases company in the UK, manage the hydrogen steam methane reformer. BOC Margam, the largest BOC site in South Wales, will run and maintain the hydrogen operation as a local satellite plant, while BOC’s Remote Operating Centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire will monitor and control the hydrogen plant remotely.
Stephen Hampson, speciality fluids manufacturing director of Eastman, said, “The project will improve the security of supply and fulfil the demand following the start-up of the new Therminol production plant.”
This major project converts desulphurised natural gas to hydrogen in a steam reformer. The hydrogen gas is then purified and compressed before being ready to be piped to the process units on site.
Sue Graham Johnston, managing director of BOC, commented, “BOC has been located at the heart of South Wales’ chemical industry for over 60 years and we are committed to supporting the area’s local industry with our industrial gases. The project was a complex feat and its success is testimony to the excellent relationship we have with Eastman.”
