Geologic Hydrogen Purification for Low-Carbon Gas Separation

Solution Overview

Problem

The production of hydrogen gas traditionally results in high greenhouse gas emissions, and existing methods like steam-methane reforming and electrolysis are costly and require substantial energy, making it challenging to achieve low carbon intensity (CI) hydrogen production.

Innovation Solution

Extracting hydrogen from subsurface geologic formations using purification equipment such as PSA devices, guard beds, separation membranes, and cryogenic separation devices to produce hydrogen with a low CI score, while also capturing helium and other noble gases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If hydrogen is produced via steam-methane reforming, then hydrogen production cost is reduced, but greenhouse gas emissions increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen production costVSAvoidgreenhouse gas emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts hydrogen directly from subsurface geologic formations through wellbores, bypassing the need for chemical conversion processes. This extraction approach separates hydrogen production from fossil fuel consumption, eliminating CO2 emissions while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to electrolysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes naturally accumulated geologic hydrogen deposits that require minimal processing. The hydrogen is obtained directly from subsurface sources without requiring external energy inputs for chemical reactions, making the process self-sufficient and low-emission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-generated harmful factors

If hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but production cost and energy requirement increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegreenhouse gas emissionsVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts hydrogen directly from subsurface geologic formations through wellbores, bypassing the need for chemical conversion processes. This extraction approach separates hydrogen production from fossil fuel consumption, eliminating CO2 emissions while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to electrolysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes naturally accumulated geologic hydrogen deposits that require minimal processing. The hydrogen is obtained directly from subsurface sources without requiring external energy inputs for chemical reactions, making the process self-sufficient and low-emission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but electricity consumption increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegreenhouse gas emissionsVSAvoidelectricity consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts hydrogen directly from subsurface geologic formations through wellbores, bypassing the need for chemical conversion processes. This extraction approach separates hydrogen production from fossil fuel consumption, eliminating CO2 emissions while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to electrolysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes naturally accumulated geologic hydrogen deposits that require minimal processing. The hydrogen is obtained directly from subsurface sources without requiring external energy inputs for chemical reactions, making the process self-sufficient and low-emission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves hydrogen production with a carbon intensity score less than 3.0 kg CO2 eq/kg H2, addressing the cost and emissions challenges of traditional methods and enabling the production of low CI score hydrogen and helium.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) device configured to receive a feedstock stream from the geologic hydrogen source and separate hydrogen from the feedstock stream to produce a purified hydrogen gas product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure swing adsorption: Pressure Swing Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a separation membrane configured to receive the guard bed effluent and separate hydrogen from the guard bed effluent based on selective permeability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMembrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 3

a cryogenic separation device configured to receive an effluent stream from the ammonia synthesis loop and separate hydrogen from the effluent stream to produce a hydrogen gas product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCryogenic separation: Cryogenics

Data Source

PatentUS20250361144A1Systems and methods for production of low carbon intensity hydrogen from geologic sources

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 KOLOMA INC

AI summary

A hydrogen production system for producing a hydrogen gas product includes a geologic hydrogen source configured to provide a feedstock comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, and helium and purification equipment comprising two or more of: a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) device; a guard bed; a separation membrane; a reactive membrane; or a cryogenic separation device. The purification equipment is configured to receive the feedstock from the geologic hydrogen source and produce a hydrogen gas product, and production of the hydrogen gas product exhibits a carbon intensity score less than 3.0 kg CO2 eq/kg H2.