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At its brick factory in Tiszavasvári, Wienerberger, in collaboration with the Institute of Energy, Ceramics and Polymer Technology at the Faculty of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at the University of Miskolc and German burner manufacturer Scharr-TEC GmbH, has successfully implemented a drying process prior to ceramic firing using only hydrogen.
Wienerberger and the University of Miskolc are working on a pioneering development for sustainable brick production. The aim of the project is to replace natural gas and reduce the carbon footprint of production while maintaining the quality of the bricks. The university’s Institute of Energy, Ceramics and Polymer Technology is playing a key role in research and technological development, proving that university knowledge is crucial for green industrial innovations.
At the Tiszavasvári factory, the drying process prior to firing was carried out in real industrial conditions using 100 percent hydrogen in a burner. Under laboratory conditions, it has already been possible to fire bricks using pure hydrogen.
The current series of experiments has proven that, after previously achieving a 25 percent mixed hydrogen ratio, it is now possible to completely replace natural gas in the brick drying and firing processes.
“After successfully testing pure hydrogen combustion under laboratory conditions, the next step could be to start series production trials. Our experiments prove that fossil fuel-free brick production is not just a distant vision, but a fully feasible manufacturing alternative in the near future,” said Péter Vaskó, Wienerberger’s national production manager.
Based on the experience gained from the project, further expansion of the hydrogen infrastructure will allow a wide range of tests to be carried out, which could accelerate the transition to the entire factory at the Tiszavasvári plant. Hydrogen technology is currently one of the most dynamically developing areas of research and development worldwide.
According to experts, based on the current knowledge base, it is foreseeable that within a reasonable time frame, up to 100 percent of the Tiszavasvári plant’s production could be achieved without the use of natural gas, carbon-free, using clean hydrogen fuel. This is a groundbreaking achievement in the field of brick manufacturing and represents a significant step forward in the building materials manufacturer’s efforts to further reduce the carbon footprint of its product portfolio.
The next phase will see the launch of laboratory series production trials, followed by tests in an industrial environment. Based on the experience gained, the aim is to apply the technology in other Hungarian and international sites in the long term, following the Tiszavasvári factory. (via economix.hu)
