Project Summary
In this project LUX will lay the foundation for the decarbonisation of airport ground support vehicles. LUX’s technology is uniquely suited to quickly be integrated into airport’s support systems, because of its modular and flexible design. LUX will conduct heat exchanger manufacturing trials for its novel Hydrogen liquefaction system. LUX, as the design innovator, will subcontract the manufacturing to APEX, a specialised company in Additive Manufacturing. LUX’s world-first heat exchanger aims to revolutionise Hydrogen liquefaction by utilising Additive Manufacturing techniques. The subsequent leak test trials will be part two of this project and de-risk LUX’s various patented manufacturing processes.
Project Achievements
The project began with manufacturing trials in Stainless Steel 316L, an essential calibration step when Additively Manufacturing (AM) heat exchanger components. The trials led to the successful development of a miniature heat exchanger in 316L, which was used to validate the core design and AM process techniques. The project proceeded to design and manufacture a full-scale heat exchanger in 316L which brought with it significant risk and design complexity. Close collaboration with the primary subcontractor (APEX) was essential to ensure that the design would comply with the limitations and capabilities of the AM process.
Conclusions
The TRIG 23 project has successfully advanced hydrogen liquefaction technology, achieving key milestones such as the design and manufacturing of a full-scale heat exchanger using stainless steel 316L. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using additive manufacturing (AM) for complex components, overcoming challenges like powder removal and material porosity. Progressing from TRL 3 to TRL 4, the project accelerated LUX Industries’ commercial and technology roadmaps, generating industry interest. This innovation supports the UK’s net-zero goals, with significant potential for decarbonizing airport ground support vehicles and equipment, accelerating airports’ transition to net-zero with LUX’s efficient hydrogen liquefaction technology.
Next Steps
performance in real-world environments. Once the cryogenic testing phase is complete, achieving TRL 5, the focus will shift towards commercial implementation, targeting hydrogen production and storage facilities at airports as key markets. LUX Industries is also actively exploring additional ATI funding and collaboration opportunities with industry stakeholders to support this next phase of development. The goal is to introduce the technology into live testing environments, where it can be further optimised for large-scale use at airports, ultimately helping meet the rising demand for green hydrogen supply solutions. By successfully scaling the technology from a miniature prototype to a full-scale heat exchanger, LUX aims to significantly contribute to airport decarbonisation, as the heat exchanger will be instrumental in hydrogen liquefaction processes. This development aligns with broader industry trends and the UK’s net-zero targets by offering a more viable and scalable solution for green hydrogen. Furthermore, these heat exchanger advancements are expected to accelerate airports’ transition to net-zero emissions, as LUX’s technology will enable more efficient use of hydrogen for ground support vehicles and equipment, positioning LUX for future commercial opportunities as hydrogen is trialled in use for fuelling commercial aircraft.
