The Linde Group has launched its research and development centre in Shanghai taking the lead in the development of new high technology industrial gas applications and solutions in China and the Asia Pacific region. This is the first such R&D centre in China to be owned by an industrial gases and engineering company.
The Linde Technology Centre will drive R&D initiatives in partnership with gas reliant industries and research institutes in projects to improve gases related industrial processes and develop green technologies geared towards future and sustainable applications.
The centre owns cutting edge technology to facilitate research and development work in waste water treatment and the electronics, laser, metallurgy, welding, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. It also has an R&D demonstration facility for customer engagements, allowing for closer customer interactions when designing solutions specific to their needs.
Mr Steven Fang Regional Business Unit Head Greater China of The Linde Group said “China and the Asia Pacific countries is a key growth region for The Linde Group accounting for around 20% of the group’s industrial gases sales. At the speed of development in this region, industries will increasingly seek for advanced solutions that are sustainable with greater emphasis on process efficiencies and product quality. This is the trend we are seeing especially in China. In foreseeing this need we have chosen to set up the Linde Technology Centre in Shanghai to offer Linde global technological know-how in gas applications and, in partnership with local experts, discover new leading applications for the industries in Asia.”
At the launch event of the centre in Pudong, Shanghai, Linde signed joint partnership agreements to further enhance its on going projects with Nanjing Iron and Steel Company, Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing and Tsinghua University focused on developing green solutions from intelligent gases applications.
Linde joint project with NISCO has broken new ground in waste water treatment solutions. The solution applies the use of carbon dioxide to neutralize alkaline industrial waste water which is environmentally friendlier than the traditional use of hydrochloric acid. The CO2 solution also reduced cost considerably, by more than 60% as compared with the use of acid. Linde and NISCO have filed a patent application for this process in the US and China. The technology will be introduced to other steel manufacturers and potential customers in other industries.
Linde joint development program with Sinopec RIPP focuses on heavy oil flash de-asphalting processes. The flash technology has great potential in improving the process efficiencies of heavy oil de asphalting, cracking and hydro cracking, coal liquefaction and biomass conversion. Initial efforts are focused on developing a novel heavy oil flash de asphalting process to further utilize the use of heavy oil resources as a fuel substitute to the fast depleting global crude oil reserves.
In line with the Chinese government commitment towards the reduction of carbon emission which is a primary cause of climate change, Linde and Tsinghua University have kicked off an extensive research project on the development of carbon dioxide capture technology by absorption process. A 200,000 Nm3/p.a. pilot plant will be built at a Linde carbon dioxide production facility in Shanghai to provide the design & process basis for the construction of large-scale carbon capture and storage plants.
Mr Alan Watins Head of Merchant & Packaged Gas, The Linde Group said “As a leading global technology company, sustained research and development is vital to Linde long term business success, and the success of our customers. Intelligent gas applications can increase efficiency, improve product quality, protect the environment and advance safety. Linde drive for continued innovation helps us to discover new applications for our gases and ensuring that we are close to our customers will enable us to better understand their needs and better support and improve their processes. This is the vision of the Linde Technology Centre in China which will form an important part of Linde global research network.”
(Sourced from www.echinachem.com)
