Researchers at the government-backed Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM) created the technology, which could reduce dependence on foreign imports in the global cryogenic cooling system market.
The new expander uses a zero global warming potential refrigerant and an oil-free design, making it more compact and suitable for small-scale industrial applications.
It can liquefy hydrogen, natural gas and air, significantly increasing energy density while reducing storage facility sizes.
"By developing this key technology for cryogenic turbo expanders, we've paved the way for the localization of alternative energy storage systems to combat climate change," said Lim Hyung-soo, principal researcher at KIMM.
