Parker Hannifin collaborates on hydrogen-argon project

Motion and control technologies provider Parker Hannifin announced its involvement in the Integrated Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle (iHAPC) project. Led by the University of Vaasa and supported by Wärtsilä under the WISE (Wide and Intelligent Sustainable Energy) program, the project will develop and test a prototype engine that uses hydrogen and argon to achieve a significant efficiency boost.

The iHAPC project is a collaborative research initiative to advance cleaner and more energy-efficient engine technologies. (Photo: Parker Hannifin)

The initiative unites Finnish research institutions, technical experts and industry partners, including Wärtsilä Finland Oy, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, University of Oulu, Vahterus Oy, Vaisala Oyj, and TotalEnergies.

The iHAPC project, which kicks off in January 2025, replaces conventional air intake with a mix of argon and oxygen during combustion. Argon’s optimal heat capacity ratio reportedly enables the engine to produce the same power output with significantly less fuel, potentially increasing combustion engine efficiency up to 20%.

In the closed-loop process, hydrogen, oxygen, and argon are the inputs, producing only water and recycled argon as byproducts. Most water is removed via a condenser built by Vahterus Oy. An advanced filtration system, designed by Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Finland Oy, located in Urjala, removes any remaining moisture and impurities from the argon that has been recaptured after combustion.

“The argon power cycle allows for the complete valorization of green hydrogen with exceptional power generation efficiency. This could represent a major breakthrough for the energy sector,” said Professor Maciej Mikulski from the University of Vaasa, who serves as the project leader.

According to Rasmus Teir, director of Sustainability & Future Plant Concepts at Wärtsilä Energy, “We have the technologies required to achieve a 100% renewable energy future. Our goal is to continually innovate solutions that improve both affordability and sustainability. The argon power cycle is a significant technological breakthrough with the potential to positively impact these goals.”

Mikko Merikoski, Senior Technology Engineer at Parker’s Manufacturing Facility in Finland, said Parker is proud to contribute its engineering expertise to help drive cleaner and more sustainable technologies, adding, “The hydrogen-argon power cycle represents a major step forward in improving the efficiency of hydrogen power generation.”

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