“Hydrogen: The Green Fuel” – A Guide to Industrial Hydrogen in 2020

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, and also the simplest. However, we cannot find it free(i.e. in a gaseous form) in nature; it has to be extracted through different processes, including Water Electrolysis, Methanol Cracking, Steam Methane Reforming, and Ammonia Cracking for it to be used for industrial purposes. Here’s all you need to know about industrial Hydrogen in 2020.

Let’s look at the various methods of Hydrogen Generation:

Water Electrolysis:

To put it in simple words, Water Electrolysis involves the passing of an electric current through water (H2O). This results in the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The Water Electrolysis technique is very interesting because it can use a non-greenhouse gas energy source.

Click here to check out our Water Electrolysis system

Methanol Cracking :

Methanol Cracking is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of Hydrogen production and uses only water and methanol.

To know more about the specifications of this process, click here

Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)

Steam Methane Reforming is the most common method for hydrogen generation. It involves reforming natural gas in a continuous catalytic process in which the major reaction is the formation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from methane and steam.

Click here to know how Nuberg has applied this method to produce high-purity Hydrogen.

Ammonia cracking :

This method for hydrogen production from ammonia is based on the catalytic dissociation of gaseous ammonia in a cracker. In the ammonia cracker, the supplied hydrogen is burnt to release the energy needed for the ammonia dissociation process.

To know how we use this method, click here

However, it is not enough to merely produce it. It has to be purified for Industrial use.

Let’s dive into some of the processes involved.

Hydrogen recovery :

This process captures the hydrogen from refinery gas streams coming from the hydro-treaters and hydro-cracker.

There are three common methods to do this:

Cryogenic hydrogen recovery:

The non-hydro components are then cooled so that they drop out as a liquid, allowing separation from the hydrogen.

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) :

The gas mixture is passed through a molecular sieve solid adsorbent, which adsorbs the hydrocarbon and allows the gas to pass through.

Membrane diffusion :

The gas mixture is separated by using pressure to force the hydrogen through a membrane that is not permeable to large hydrocarbons.

Hydrogen Purification:

One of the key factors in using Hydrogen as a future fuel, is highly dependent on its purification. Nuberg provides high-quality Pressure Swing absorption(PSA) plants that produces the highest quality of Hydrogen.

Click here to know the equipment involved.

Now that we know the how, let us look at the why. After all, why do we consider it a such a good fuel? Here are a few reasons:

  • ENERGY MEDIUM: It is an energy storage medium. Energy, stored as hydrogen in the form of a gas or a liquid, will never dissipate until it is used. This makes it a good application for emergency generators and other mission-critical energy applications.
  • CLEAN FUEL: It is considered a clean fuel because when used in a fuel cell, it produces only water. Also, it can be harnessed in a variety of ways. For example, natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, as well as renewable energy like wind and solar.
  • HIGHER CALORIFIC VALUE: The fuel has the highest Calorific Value, meaning that a large amount of energy can be obtained from a small amount of fuel.
  • OTHER BENEFITS: The fuel is also carbon free, non-toxic, lighter than air, odorless, and can be easily stored.

No wonder it is called the ‘Ultimate source of energy’!

This brings us to the bigger question: Why do we consider Hydrogen gas the Green Fuel of the Future?

Consider this: With rising levels of CO2 emissions, and the dangers of Climate Change becoming increasingly evident, there is a dire need for a cleaner, safer fuel; a fuel that can serve as a promising replacement for carbon. With this fuel being in abundance, many researchers feel it can serve humankind for a long time, if harnessed properly.

The demand for industrial Hydrogen has multiplied by more than three since 1975. As such, it continues to increase, supplied almost entirely by fossil fuels, with 6% of global natural gas and 2% of global coal destined for hydrogen production.

Thus, green hydrogen is the fuel of the future. From industrial hydrogen to domestic, the way forward is its use as the main fuel.

However, this fuel can only be used as an optimal environment-friendly energy source when it is generated through the use of renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, etc. This is known as Green Hydrogen and is created through the use of Water Electrolysis. According to the International Energy Agency(IEA), this method would save the 830 million tones of CO2 that are emitted annually when this gas is produced using fossil fuels.

Therefore, industrial Hydrogen is rapidly being developed and used to meet the growing energy need on a global scale. So much so, that even top-notch companies like Microsoft are using it to meet their energy demands. Know more

GREEN HYDROGEN IN INDUSTRY

  • TRANSPORT SECTOR:  The transport industry would benefit enormously from a large scale usage of this gas. Cars powered by its fuel cells would lead to a reduction in air pollution because there would be zero gas emissions. Several cars in the market already use this technology, and are known to have similar and even superior performance than most battery-powered cars.
  • POWER PLANTS: It can also be a tool to deal with variability in electricity systems. It can be converted into hydrogen when excess soar and wind flood into the grid, which can be used elsewhere or to produce electricity.

Keeping all of this in mind, Nuberg realizes that up and coming innovations are the way to lead the world in an environmental-conscious way, by harnessing and using resources to the best of their capacities. Also considering the need for better distribution of such resources, Nuberg also constantly rearranges its prices to provide the highest quality product, at the lowest rate.

To know more about our ventures to succeed in this mission, click here

4 thoughts on ““Hydrogen: The Green Fuel” – A Guide to Industrial Hydrogen in 2020”

  1. Hello my name is mahmad Sajid I like the concept of green energy and I am glade to read your view about Renewable energy I have few questions and want to understand from you

    (1) I want hydrogen Water Electrolysis plant you can build it for me?

    (2) how many acers land required for basic plant ?

    (3) what is the cost of basic plant?

    (4) how many employees need to run basic plant?

    (5) how much electricity it can consume in day?

    (6) what is the expense of 24 hour ruining the plant?

    I will ask more for now I have these questions I hope you will guide me and help me with the answer thanks for spending your time in reading my message

  2. Hello my name is Yam Nath Baral I like the concept of green energy and I am glade to read your view about Renewable energy I have few questions and want to understand from you

    (1) I want hydrogen Water Electrolysis plant you can build it for me?

    (2) how many acers land required for basic plant ?

    (3) what is the cost of basic plant?

    (4) how many employees need to run basic plant?

    (5) how much electricity it can consume in day?

    (6) what is the expense of 24 hour ruining the plant?

    I will ask more for now I have these questions I hope you will guide me and help me with the answer thanks for spending your time in reading my message.
    ynbaral@hotmail.com
    Nepal

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