⎪ PowerGen,PetroChem and Sustainable energy management ⎪
in business segments powered or enabled by hydrogen. In addition, the hydrogen economy also means powering economic activities in a decarbonised manner to eliminate carbon emissions. Hydrogen is differentiated on the basis of the quantity of carbon emissions and/or pow- er sources producing it. For example, ‘green’ hydrogen means it is produced through water electrolysis powered purely by renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydropower. ‘Blue’ hydrogen means it is produced from hydrocarbon-based sources such as natural gas, but with no carbon emissions due to car- bon capture technology. ‘Grey’, on the other hand, is produced by steam reforming of fossil fuels, which does produce carbon emissions. Last, but by no means least, the hydrogen economy means viable and thriving econo- mies based on the hydrogen ecosystem. “This is a critical component to deliver sustainable impact. If it is not viable and thriving, it will not last, and therefore not deliver the desired lasting impact,” stresses Zhao. “Based on some successful use cases and strong fundamental business cases for certain business segments, I believe strongly in a thriving hydrogen economy. Those suc- cesses provide positive reinforcements to the hydrogen ecosystem; however, like any great innovation, it will take time to go through the
innovation adaption curve,” acknowledges Zhao. “There are likely to be some applica- tions and use cases generating a great deal of enthusiasm now that will not pass the harsh reality of economic viability, but some will return as thriving applications when the ecosystem is ready for them,” he points out. Zhao concludes: “Successful energy transition requires massive innovation and collaboration from the entire ecosystem of willing partners. Friendly competition is a key ingredient to driving critical and continuous improvement towards sustained impact. So, while compet- ing to offer the best we can at any given stage of this long transition, together we can make it happen.” Zhao was a recent speaker at the Hydrogen Economy Discussion event on Tuesday 6 Sep- tember at the Johannesburg Country Club. Focusing on global developments, implica- tions and opportunities, the event looked at hydrogen as a powerful enabler for global en- ergy transition as we seek to diversify energy sources and fast-track the route to net zero. In South Africa, the discussion centres around opportunities to become a leading player in the global hydrogen economy, given the country’s unique position as the world’s largest producer of PGMs and its huge poten- tial for renewable energy production. www.cummins.com/new-power zone-certification authority.” In addition to overseeing and quality- managing all the work done, M&C’s engi- neering team assigned to the project was required, at the client’s request, to recalculate the modified winding and core design for the stator. “A complicating factor was that a new specification for motors of this type has been introduced recently, which necessitates hav- ing to obtain guidance from the inspection authority to ensure that the new spec was properly adhered to,” Smorenburg points out. The work performed by the zone-certified OEM consisted of manufacturing a new sta- tor core and coils – in accordance with the applicable voltage and zone certification requirements – and performing the rewind as designed by M&C and the OEM. This was the first stator core rewind for a zone-certified compressor drive train motor to be performed in South Africa. The work culmi- nated in a successful test run of the repaired and reassembled motor in M&C’s Cleveland plant earlier this year. “This again demonstrates M&C’s design, en- gineering and test capability and the company’s flexibility to partner with various OEMs to assist customers in providing the best possible quality solution,” says Craig Smorenburg. q
quantifiable goals for 2030, along with three visionary longer-term aspirations timed for 2050. The strategy was adopted in 2019 dur- ing Cummins’ centenary year. The three focus areas for the strategy are to reduce greenhouse gas and air emissions in line with expert recommendations, use natural resources in the most sustainable way possible and assist communities to address their major environmental challenges. Two of the eight 2030 goals pledge a 25% reduction in emissions from newly sold products and partnering with customers to reduce emissions from products in the field by 55-million metric tons. “Our New Power prod- ucts fit directly into these goals and pivoting resources to deliver on them. We work with our customers to actively deliver global en- ergy transition projects today,” stresses Zhao. Cummins’ New Power business unit complements the existing four business units of Engines, Power Systems, Components and Distribution. It develops technologies and products not based on engine technology to help Cummins’ customers transition to future zero emission technologies. Looking more broadly at the hydrogen economy, Zhao defines this as an ecosystem of products and solutions that commences with hydrogen generation and proceeds to hy- drogen and energy storage, and applications
In mid-2021 Marthinusen & Coutts (M&C) was asked to take the lead in the redesign and qual- ity management of a stator rewind process for a 17 MW compressor drive synchronous motor that had failed during operation. The motor is a hazardous area zone-certified motor as it operates at a petrochemical plant in a potentially extremely explosive environ- ment of hydrogen and acetylene gas “A com- Marthinusen & Coutts redesigns and supervises zone-certified stator rewind pany performing any work on a zone-certified motor is required to be specially certified for this,” says Craig Smorenburg, M&C’s Works Executive. “As we are not certified for this ourselves, we partnered with a local OEM that has this certification and they performed the work under our supervision and in close consulta- tion with us, the client and an independent
M&C was asked to take the lead in the redesign and quality management of a zone-certified stator rewind for a 17 MW compressor drive synchronous motor.
November-December 2022 • MechChem Africa ¦ 33
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