Modular Hydrogen Generation From Natural Gas With Carbon Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of hydrogen for hydrogen vehicle fuel cells and hydrogen powered utility systems is currently expensive and capital-intensive, requiring large facilities that are cost-prohibitive due to government regulations, and there is a need for a smaller-scale, environmentally friendly method to produce hydrogen while capturing and storing carbon for future use.
Innovation Solution
A modular hydrogen generation system that processes natural gas by segmenting it into units, separating hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons, and using a steam reformation module to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with a molecular sorter to separate and store hydrogen and carbon, enabling carbon credits through a carbon credit module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large hydrogen producing plants are built to produce hydrogen for fuel cells and utility systems, then hydrogen production capacity is improved, but capital costs and regulatory compliance costs increase making the facility cost prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hydrogen production system into modular units that can be deployed incrementally. Each module contains complete functionality for reforming, separation, and carbon capture, allowing the system to be scaled from small to large capacities by adding identical modules rather than building one large complex facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functions within nested modular components where carbon capture and hydrogen separation systems are contained within the same physical footprint as the reforming units. This nesting allows small-scale deployment without requiring separate facilities for each function, reducing overall capital costs while maintaining full functionality.
2Productivity
If traditional hydrogen production methods are used to produce hydrogen at scale, then hydrogen supply is improved, but environmental impact increases due to carbon emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the carbon dioxide produced during the reforming process and converts it into a sellable commodity through carbon credit programs. The harmful carbon emission is transformed into a beneficial revenue stream, making the overall process environmentally friendly while maintaining high hydrogen production volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding carbon dioxide as waste product, the patent recovers and sequesters it through integrated carbon capture systems. The captured carbon is stored or utilized elsewhere, eliminating the harmful environmental impact while preserving the hydrogen production process.
3Reliability
If government regulations are complied with for opening large hydrogen facilities, then production legitimacy is improved, but opening costs become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic scaling of facility size to match regulatory thresholds and market demands. Small modular units can be deployed initially with minimal regulatory hurdles, then expanded incrementally as needed, allowing the system to adapt to regulatory requirements without incurring prohibitive upfront costs for large-scale compliance.
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 system allows for on-site production of hydrogen and carbon capture, reducing environmental impact and regulatory costs, while enabling the creation of carbon credits and providing a scalable, mobile solution for hydrogen distribution.
Implementation Method 1
using a steam reformation module to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 2
with a molecular sorter to separate and store hydrogen and carbon
Data Source
AI summary
A method for tracking processing of natural gas through a hydrogen generation system includes segmenting the input flow of natural gas at the received flow into a predetermined unit of received natural gas (Unit) for tracking of the Unit through the system. The step of segmenting includes measuring the constituent makeup of the received natural gas to determine the molecular structure and molecular weight of each constituent that is contained within the natural gas flow associated with the Unit and determining the volume of the received natural gas that constitutes the Unit based upon the measured amount of each constituent's molecular structure and molecular weight required to define the Unit. The method further comprising separating from the Unit select ones of the hydrocarbons contained therein and measuring the molecular weight of each of the separated hydrocarbons, separating from the Unit all remaining non-selected ones of the hydrocarbons and the non-hydrocarbons associated with the Unit and determining the molecular structure and molecular weight of each constituent in this step of separating and inputting the separated select ones of the hydrocarbons associated with the Unit to a manifold, processing the desired hydrocarbon associated with the Unit output by the manifold associated with the Unit to separate Hydrogen and Carbon atoms into hydrogen gas, H2, and elemental Carbon, measuring the molecular volume of the hydrogen gas, H2, associated with the Unit, measuring the molecular weight of the elemental Carbon associated with the Unit and directing with the manifold the separated select ones of the hydrocarbons associated with the Unit not including the desired hydrocarbon associated with the Unit to route the directed separated select ones of the hydrocarbons associated the Unit to the natural gas line and wherein the molecular volume of each of the directed separated select ones of the hydrocarbons associated with the Unit is measured.