Overview
Chesterfield Special Cylinders recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment and retesting project on two hydrogen trailers for Air Products, a leading global supplier of hydrogen and industrial gases. The company has been distributing hydrogen for over 65 years.
Trailers are an integral part of Air Products’ hydrogen supply chain with safety and reliability being paramount. They service the company’s hydrogen refuelling station in Hatton Cross which was built for the London Olympics in 2012.
The project involved a full disassembly, inspection, refurbishment, and reassembly of the trailers, which were originally designed and manufactured by Chesterfield Special Cylinders. The trailers underwent their 10-year mandatory retest to ensure continued safety and compliance with international standards for hydrogen transportation.
The challenge
As the trailers approached the end of their initial service life, a thorough refurbishment was required to meet ADR road legality and ISO 11623 cylinder standards. Downtime had to be reduced as much as possibly to ensure continuous supply. Additionally, the project addressed external wear and tear of the some of the cylinders which was caused by exposure to the elements. This required collaboration with the original cylinder manufacturer to ensure a safe and effective solution.
The solution
Chesterfield Special Cylinders’ team led and coordinated a complex, multi-disciplinary project while ensuring compliance with safety standards. The scope of the project included:
- Disassembly of the trailer frame and cylinders
- Chassis refurbishment and MOT
- Cylinder testing, inspection, and necessary repairs
- Reassembly, leak testing, final recertification approval
- On-time delivery back to the customer.
With a combination of bespoke engineering solutions and effective communication, the project was completed within the tight three-month window, ensuring no operational delays for Air Products.
The results
Both trailers were successfully refurbished, retested, and re-certified in compliance with ADR and ISO standards, making them fit for another 10 years of safe hydrogen transportation. The team’s attention to detail and engineering expertise played a pivotal role in
ensuring the project’s success.
Why Chesterfield Special Cylinders
Chesterfield Special Cylinders’ proven expertise in hydrogen trailer refurbishment highlights the company’s capability in:
- Hydrogen infrastructure expertise: Chesterfield Special Cylinders has over 80 years of experience in manufacturing hydrogen storage products. Their depth of expertise is significant in supporting hydrogen infrastructure projects, providing end-to-end solutions from design to long-term maintenance.
- Integrity management: The ability to deliver complete trailer refurbishment, inspections, and repairs, ensuring regulatory compliance and minimal downtime for critical operations.
- Tailored engineering solutions: Addressing unforeseen and successfully overcoming challenging issues such as cylinder delamination with bespoke engineering solutions that ensure safety and extend the service life of assets.
Looking forward
The successful completion of this project has strengthened the partnership between Chesterfield Special Cylinders and Air Products. Both companies remain committed to advancing hydrogen as a key component of the UK’s sustainable energy infrastructure, with potential for further trailer maintenance and hydrogen projects.
