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Environmental Contributions in the fields of Materials, Machinery and Engineering
Building on our extensive results in the field of industrial machinery, technological capabilities for meeting customer needs, and engineering know-how, the Kobe Steel Group offers a variety of products and technologies that contribute to energy savings, renewable energy and environmental conservation in general. Contributing to the environment through the pursuit of monozukuri (manufacturing) is KOBELCO's mission.
Symbols indicate the sectors in which our products are used by customers.
Titanium Separator Material for Small Lightweight Fuel Cells
Titanium separator material
Kobe Steel has developed a titanium separator material for fuel cells that uses a carbon-based surface coating. Stainless steel and titanium separators previously in use possessed favorable gas barrier properties, corrosion resistance, formability and strength. However, the oxide protective film (insulating film), which forms to prevent corrosion, also impedes conductivity. This newly developed titanium separator material has a coating of inexpensive carbon material on the surface of the highly corrosion-resistant titanium, resulting in low contact resistance, thus successfully combining long-term durability with high conductivity.
The separator material, which utilizes strong light-weight titanium, helps contribute to smaller, lighter fuel cells. Additionally, since ferrous ions, which are said to deteriorate transmission of the fuel cell's hydrogen ions, are not elutriated, fuel cells utilizing the new material are expected to have a long operating life.
Welding Wire for High-Strength Steel Sheet Increases the Fatigue Strength and Corrosion Resistance of Weld Points
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Regarding pure Ar(argon)-MIG* welding methods (MX-MIG), which produce an extremely smooth weld bead shape, Kobe Steel has developed MM-1HS, the world's first flux-cored wire with high fatigue resistance that does not use expensive elements such as nickel or chrome. MM-1HS greatly increases the fatigue strength of sheet weld points, improving the fatigue characteristics of problematic welded joints for thinner high-strength steel sheet.
MM-1HS allows for an extremely stable weld, greatly reducing weld spatter, and contributing to an improved welding environment.
*MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding is a method of welding in which an electric arc is shielded from the air by an inert gas.
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Stable welding is possible.
Joint Development of Hybrid Deodorizing Equipment for Food Factories
Deomeister hybrid deodorizing
system
In November 2012, Shinko Actec Co., Ltd., together with Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., Toenec Corporation, and Showa Ceramics Co., Ltd., jointly developed Deomeister, a hybrid deodorizing system for use in food factories. The product combines titania photocatalyst deodorization and zeolite honeycomb deodorization. Shinko Actec was involved in development of the latter.
Titania photocatalyst deodorization uses ultraviolet irradiation to transform moisture in the air into free radicals, the oxidizing effect of which breaks down toxic substances. Zeolite honeycomb deodorization, meanwhile, absorbs odors, eliminating them gradually over time. By combining both technologies, the Deomeister is able to handle a wide range of difficult odors.
Trial Run of Binary Power Generation System at Obama Hot Springs in Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture
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Begun in April 2013, a trial run of three of Kobe Steel's Microbinary MB70H compact binary power generators is currently underway as part of the Ministry of the Environment's "Challenge 25 Community Building Project—Model Project for Industrialization of Hot Springs Power Generation Using Under-utilized Thermal Effluent at Obama Hot Springs."
The order for the Microbinary units was received from Obama Onsen Energy (Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture) and Edit Inc. (Fukuoka Prefecture).
Approximately 70% of the high-temperature water at Obama Hot Springs is discharged into the ocean without being effectively used. Kobe Steel's compact binary power generation system, which has garnered praise for its size, high efficiency, and packaging for mass production, was selected for demonstration tests into the possibility of using this under-utilized thermal effluent for power generation without impacting the hot spring's quality.
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Compact binary power generator
Microbinary MB70H
Introduction of New Model for On-Site Water Electrolysis: High-purity Hydrogen Oxygen Generator (HHOG) Series
H2 Box on-site High-purity
Hydrogen Oxygen Generator
Aiming to create a compact and space-saving version of its on-site water electrolysis High-purity Hydrogen Oxygen Generator (or HHOG), Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd. has begun marketing of a new low-price model known as the H2 Box. The downsized H2 Box requires an installation area of 60% in comparison to previous models, and has 75% of the bulk.
HHOG enables the on-site creation of hydrogen. The advantage of on-site creation is that it does not require the space or labor necessitated by storage and replacement of compressed hydrogen cylinders. For this reason, Kobelco Eco-Solutions is currently focusing its sales efforts on research institutes, universities and development agencies.
Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. 20-Ton-Class Hybrid Excavator
SK200H 20-ton-class hybrid
hydraulic excavator
Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. has developed the SK200H model, a 20-ton-class hybrid hydraulic excavator that reduces fuel consumption.
The hybrid system was developed to store energy produced when the upper portion of the excavator rotates. Electricity is stored in a battery known as a capacitor. This energy is then used to power an electric motor, which assists in the operation of a hydraulic pump. This system decreases fuel consumption by 16% in comparison to excavators with standard specification.
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Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd Wins Award in the Technological Development and Commercialization Category of the Environment Minister's Award for Global Warming Prevention Activity
Director and Executive Officer Keisuke Okamoto (right)
receiving award from then-current Minister of the
Environment Hiroyuki Nagahama
Diagram of highly-efficient two-stage incinerator
Development of Sludge Incinerator with Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd. won the Environment Minister's Award in recognition of its highly-efficient two-stage incinerator plant for sludge produced by water treatment facilities. Over 70% of sludge is treated by incineration. However, previous sludge incinerators emitted N20 (nitrous oxide), a gas with 310 times the greenhouse effect as CO2 (carbon dioxide), making reduction of the gas highly desirable.
The highly-efficient two-stage incinerator separates the pyrolysis and perfect combustion zones. The pyrolysis zone uses a low air ratio of less than 1.0 for controlled incineration, releasing the organic combustible energy found naturally in sludge as pyrolysis gas, while the perfect combustion zone incinerates the gas instantaneously to produce localized temperatures of 900°C, which break down the N20.
The Minister's Award was given in recognition of the fact that N20 emissions are reduced by 80% compared to previous burners. Additionally, the new incinerator contributes to reduced energy consumption by utilizing sludge pyrolysis and two-stage incineration to produce the necessary temperatures to eliminate N20 without requiring additional fuel. The Award is a direct recognition of over 30 years of experience and technology development on the part of KOBELCO.
