Project: Integrated Natural Gas based Hydrogen Production and Compression System

The overall goal of the project is to develop a cost- and energy efficient on-site high pressure hydrogen (H) supply solution for industrial process gas as well as for the upcoming Hydrogen economy. The basic principle behind this novel 250 bar H generation and compression system is the exploitation of waste heat from a steam methane reformer by means of thermal metal hydride (MH) hydrogen sorption techniques compressing hydrogen without any high-grade energy consumption._x000D__x000D_At present, annually 500 billion m3 of hydrogen are produced globally in centralised large-scale refinery-like plants, compressed to 200 bar, and transported for use in industrial processes. In this old-fashion supply chain a significant part of the energy content is wasted on transport as huge trucks (40 tons) carry only a few hundred kilogram of hydrogen over several hundred kilometres. New technology of on-site hydrogen generation system can prevent the losses due to logistics and therefore provide hydrogen in a more cost- and energy-efficient way._x000D__x000D_HyGear in cooperation with Air Products has just commenced to engage such an on-site hydrogen generation products into the market. This joint market engagement process has started promising. Many industrial users of hydrogen - such as glass factories, metal treatment industry, semiconductor industry, laboratories etc. - are being addressed by this new products and thus saving energy and costs. In this way some competitive advantage is being realized at this very moment by the joint HyGear / Air Products initiative._x000D__x000D_At the same time, however, competition from the United States and Japan is pursuing the same product-market combination as HyGear / Air Products. Furthermore, while these new on-site generation systems offer great benefits for customers that need low pressure hydrogen, they do not offer the same benefits for customers that have high pressure requirements. If the current HyGear hydrogen generators (www.hygear.nl) could be upgraded with new technology to compress to higher pressures in a cost- and energy-efficient way, the market that could be addressed would be a factor of ten bigger than for the current product. As a result, the first mover advantage of HyGear and Air Products could be extended in such way that the combination would become the global market leader within several areas._x000D__x000D_Today's state of the art compression technology is electrically driven mechanical compressors; not a very cost- and energy-efficient solution. HYSTORSYS, however, offers a first generation of metal hydride based hydrogen compression system which uses heat (rather than electricity) to compress hydrogen. This HYSTORSYS product, developed in cooperation with IFE - a well known research institute with an impressive track record in research towards metal hydrides - is just being entered into the market. First success is there. The product, when adapted in such way that it can use waist heat from the hydrogen generator, would be the ultimate asset to advance HyGear's product into a winning product suitable for all markets, rather than for some._x000D__x000D_In order to come into this winning position, the following works need to be done:_x000D_- IFE has to develop suitable metal hydrides and achieve process changes for the current HYSTORSYS product_x000D_- HYSTORSYS has to develop a suitable advanced metal hydride hydrogen sorption system with a reduced upper temperature level ensuring an efficient H compression_x000D_- HyGear has to redesign its hydrogen generation apparatus and process scheme in order to releases waste heat at a higher temperature level whereas today only low grade waist heat (50-70 °C) is available_x000D_- Air Products has to give guidance in market pressure requirements and other customer requirements relevant for the envisioned product._x000D__x000D_The integrated products of SME's HYSTORSYS and HyGear will lead to a product able to dominate several global niche markets. The project team, including the full chain from research institute through component manufacturer HYSTORSYS and product manufacturer HyGear up to industrial process gas market leader Air Products, forms a combination well capable and highly motivated to conquer the leading position described.

Acronym HYPROCOM (Reference Number: 4793)
Duration 01/04/2009 - 31/03/2013
Project Topic Development of a novel high pressure hydrogen generation system using steam_x000D_ methane reforming and metal hydride thermal sorption compression
Project Results
(after finalisation)
The CO results of the project are a metal hydride compressor capable to compress 5 Nm3/h to a product pressure of 200 bar combined with a heating/cooling system providing the required heat/cooling energy for the compressor. Both components together with a hydrogen generation system are to form the CO goal of the project - a hydrogen production and compression system.
Network Eurostars
Call Eurostars Cut-Off 2

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
4 Air Products Nederland B.V. Partner Netherlands
4 Hydrogen Storage & Systems AS Partner Norway
4 HyGear B.V. Coordinator Netherlands
4 Institute for Energy Technology Partner Norway