Oil free non lubricated cylinders protect the gas from contamination. Full stroke length distance pieces isolate the hydraulic drive oil from the gas system.
Modular and scalable decarbonization solutions for natural gas applications, empowering a cleaner, sustainable future.
All in one Hydrogen production, compression and dispensing system
Steam methane reforming (SMR) uses heat to convert methane into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This is referred to as grey hydrogen because the carbon dioxide emissions are released. Blue hydrogen is SMR with CCUS (Carbon capture, utilization and/or storage). Green hydrogen is the electrolysis of water using renewable energy. HybriGenix’s process produces teal hydrogen using an efficient and compact electric reformer with 30% less methane compared to conventional SMR and cost-effectively captures the CO2.
HybriGenix’s process uses electric catalytic reforming in a custom-built reformer that achieves 95% efficiency in converting methane and steam to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The reformer has a simple design and features that ensure uniform heating of the catalytic bed. Electric reformers are utilized to instantly apply heat to the catalyst creating reaction temperatures of 700-900°C.
Irradiating catalyst with eletric reformer applies thermal energy in a highly efficient manner to deliver the energy exactly where it is needed. This design maximizes the non-thermal effects of electric catalytic irradiation which in turn minimizes the overall electrical energy requirement. The compact reformer design reduces process complexity and equipment size, lowering the cost for producing low carbon hydrogen.
Sustainable Competitive Advantage
HybriGenix’s unique, patented reformer design is an efficient thermal coupling of electric energy with the catalyst bed. It creates conditions where nonthermal effects of eletric catalytic irradiation are maximized. Advantages include:
- >94% conversion of natural gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
- Up to 90% capture of emissions for the process and no off site emissions if renewable energy is used.
- Approximately 50% of water requirement compared to electrolysis
Technology Need
The highly modular approach enables easy scalability and is suitable for distributed deployment, offering a cost effective solution for low-carbon hydrogen production that grows with demand as the energy sector transitions to low carbon fuel with the use of hydrogen.
Reactions
The reactions taking place in the system consist of the steam methane reforming reaction (Equation 1), together with the water gas shift reaction (Equation 2). The steam methane reforming reaction is highly endothermic, requiring heat which is provided by microwave energy.
CH4 + H2O ↔ CO + 3H2 (Equation 1: reformer reaction)
CO + H2O ↔ CO2 + H2 (Equation 2: water carbon shift reaction)
CH4 + 2H2O ↔ CO2 + 4H2 (Equation 3: overall reaction)
Hydrogen Compression
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Compressor Configuration: Single hydraulically driven reciprocating compressor
Suction Pressure: 3-7 barg
Discharge Pressure: 450 barg
Max Flowrate: 42 kg H2/hr
Power Rating: 100hp
Skid Footprint: 13.5L X 4.5W X 5.0H ft
Code Compliance: CAN/BNQ 1784-000, CSA/HGV 4.8, CSA/HGV 4.9, ISO 19880-1, CSA B51-14,
ASME BPVC, CSA C22.1
Oil Free Compression
GHG REDUCTIONS
This process uses electricity as its energy source. As such it is highly dependent on location, even within a province the grid may have different emissions and because electricity is imported from other provinces there are periodic changes in the emissions.
HybriGenix’s Electric Catalytic Reformer is an example of an electrified steam reformer, which was recently highlighted by the CICE as the hydrogen production pathway with the most promise for low carbon hydrogen production from natural gas.
Figure 2 compares the kg CO2 emissions by province for a kg of hydrogen production with HybriGenix’s process using renewable and grid electricity in comparison to SMR with CCUS. When renewable energy is used, this process is preferable over SMR in every province, however similar to electrolysis, in provinces where the grid has a high carbon intensity, electrification results in increased Scope 2 (upstream) emissions, which in some cases perform worse than grey hydrogen production (see e.g. Alberta).
Note in the calculation below, it was assumed that the plant was configured to capture 90% of the CO2.
