CSR/Environment

Environmental and
Social Report 2009

Environmental and
Social Report 2007

Environmental and
Social Report 2005

Developing Products that Reduce Environmental Load

Taiyo Nippon Sanso is taking advantage of the gas control technology that it has built up over many years to develop a variety of products that contribute to environmental preservation. The Company has also been providing the market with guidance on how to handle its products in more environmentally friendly ways. Some representative products are introduced below.

Hydrogen stations

An energy system that harnesses renewable energy such as sunlight to manufacture the hydrogen that is used to generate power in fuel cells is said to be the ultimate environmentally friendly system. Taiyo Nippon Sanso is an active participant in two government-supported projects - the WE-NET (World Energy Network: International cooperation in research and development of clean energy systems with particular emphasis on hydrogen) Project and the JHFC (Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell) Demonstration Project - aimed at nurturing a society based on hydrogen energy. These two projects have set up hydrogen filling stations at 14 locations thus far, and Taiyo Nippon Sanso has contributed to the construction and operation of 8 of them. A hydrogen filling station supplies hydrogen gas to vehicles that run on fuel cells, a source of energy that does not produce CO2 emissions. Hydrogen gas is supplied as a result of the pressure difference between the gas storage unit and the fuel tank. An empty tank can be filled in about 10 minutes. In the spring of 2005, Taiyo Nippon Sanso developed a high-pressure 70MPa dispenser in order to extend the distances at which fuel cell vehicles can run.

Ultra-large energy-saving air separation plant

An air separation plant takes atmospheric air and liquefies and separates its components to produce oxygen and nitrogen. Taiyo Nippon Sanso’s latest ultra-large air separation plant reduces the amount of energy required to produce a unit of gas by about 15% compared with previous plants through such means as


	1)	boosting efficiency by enlarging the equipment and the air compressor,
	2)	employing a filling column with minimal pressure loss to cut the amount of electric power consumed by the air compressor, and
	3)	adopting a falling liquid film-type condenser to further reduce power consumed by the air compressor.

Nitrogen production plants (JN and MG types)

Taiyo Nippon Sanso's nitrogen production plants are constructed on the premises of customers who consume large quantities of nitrogen gas. To produce nitrogen, these plants use a CFC-free process that does not require the CFC-based coolers that were used in conventional processes. The JN type is a standard plant that features low noise, while the MG type is a high-efficiency plant that uses an improved process to boost the nitrogen recovery ratio and features a 20% reduction (based on Taiyo Nippon Sanso survey) in power consumption per unit of nitrogen gas produced compared with conventional plants.

Combustion-type gas emissions processing unit (SaanBurner)

Taiyo Nippon Sanso’s Saan Burner uses a process of combustion-induced decomposition to stabilize hazardous gases contained in emissions from semiconductor manufacturing processes. One of these gases, SiH4 (mono-silane), is highly explosive, and PFCs are gases that exacerbate global warming. Due to improved performance of the combustor and the unit’s more compact design, the burner features a distributed flame construction and employs a nozzle that uses a two-stage combustion method with a dispersed flame which adds air or oxygen for secondary combustion of any unburned fuel. As a result, heating capabilities are improved and the unit can easily be adjusted to achieve ideal combustion conditions. It is also relatively easy now to upgrade the burner.

Cover Gas for Fireproofing Smelted Magnesium Alloy (Mg Shield®)

Most of the magnesium parts that are increasingly being used in home appliances, automobiles and other products are manufactured in a diecast process that involves pouring a smelted magnesium alloy into a die. When the smelted magnesium alloy comes into contact with air, there is a danger that it will catch fire and burn. Conventionally, SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride), which has a GWP of 22,200, was used as a cover gas. To reduce the GWP of this process, Taiyo Nippon Sanso developed the "Mg Shield®" cover gas utilizing Novec TM612 fire protection fluid, an SF6 alternate with a GWP of about 1, as its main ingredient. A dedicated supply unit ensures that a stable concentration of Mg Shield® is supplied.

Environmental Accounting >>