Geologic Hydrogen Purification for Low-Carbon Gas Production
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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 carbon emissions, making it difficult to achieve low carbon intensity (CI) hydrogen production.
Innovation Solution
Extracting hydrogen from subsurface geologic reservoirs using purification equipment such as PSA devices, guard beds, separation membranes, and cryogenic separation devices to produce hydrogen with a carbon intensity score less than 3.0 kg CO2 eq/kg H2, while also producing low CI helium, neon, krypton, or xenon, and ammonia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hydrogen directly from geologic reservoirs through well drilling and purification, bypassing the steam-methane reforming process entirely. This extraction approach isolates the desired hydrogen product from the carbon-intensive production process, achieving low-cost hydrogen while eliminating associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces purification equipment as an intermediary between the geologic hydrogen source and the final product. This intermediary system (including PSA devices, guard beds, separation membranes, and cryogenic separation devices) enables the direct utilization of natural hydrogen by removing impurities, thereby avoiding the need for carbon-intensive reforming processes.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but production cost and electricity requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes naturally occurring hydrogen that accumulates in geologic reservoirs through abiotic processes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external energy input (electricity for electrolysis or heat for reforming), as the hydrogen is already present in the subsurface and simply requires extraction and purification to reach the market.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If electrolysis technology is deployed to produce green hydrogen, then carbon intensity is reduced, but capital cost and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hydrogen directly from geologic reservoirs in its natural state, eliminating the need for complex electrolysis infrastructure and associated storage systems. The hydrogen is obtained through well drilling and purification, bypassing the need for capital-intensive electrolyzer technology and large-scale storage facilities.
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 low-cost, low-CI hydrogen production with minimal carbon emissions, meeting market demands and enabling the production of additional valuable gases and chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) device configured to receive the feedstock from the geologic hydrogen source and produce a PSA device effluent and a purge gas stream
Implementation Method 2
a separation membrane configured to receive the PSA device effluent from the PSA device and remove nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and/or methane components from the PSA device effluent
Implementation Method 3
a cryogenic separation device configured to receive the membrane effluent from the separation membrane and separate hydrogen from the membrane effluent to produce a hydrogen gas product
Data Source
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.