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Air Liquide Begins Operations of New Large-Scale Hydrogen Production Unit in California
20 October 2009
Air Liquide’s latest large-scale hydrogen production unit recently began operations on the site of ConocoPhillips’ San Francisco refinery in Rodeo, California, on the north eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay. The 142,000 Nm3/h (120 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd)) steam methane reformer (SMR) is one of the largest hydrogen units in operation in the United States.
Refiners use hydrogen to convert heavy crude oil into diesel, jet fuel and gasoline and to further remove sulphur from these products.
Air Liquide has more than doubled its US production capacity of hydrogen in the last five years. With this unit in production, Air Liquide now operates hydrogen units at 12 sites in the US in California, Washington, Texas and Louisiana, with a total hydrogen capacity in excess of 592,000 Nm3/h (500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd)).
October 20, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: ejj | October 20, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Since the hydrogen comes from methane, where does all the CO2 go? Considering they say nothing of it, I assume it is quietly sent into the atmosphere. Hydrogen is green!
Posted by: Simodul | October 21, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Simodul, Hydrogen is coming from methane in a first step and water in a second one, to convert CO in CO2. So the global reaction is not so bad with 3 H2 molecules from a single CH4. But CO2 emission is the price to pay for a low sulfur amount in your gasoline. Difficult choice!
Posted by: Raymond Bonnaterre | October 21, 2009 at 03:09 AM
I agree Raymond,
My point was only to remind that H2 can also be a CO2 contributer. When people talk about H2, they tend to see it as the greenest thing possible, and that is not always true.
Posted by: Simodul | October 21, 2009 at 04:20 AM
"ConocoPhillips’ San Francisco refinery"
There are a lot of docking and refineries in that area. This is one of the facts of oil and fuel, it is a HUGE industry that few give much thought to. As long as the refinery is not located near them, then that is fine. Gasoline tanker trucks roll down the highways every day and that all seems normal. It is only when there is a truck crash or refinery explosion that anyone notices.
When you think how easy it is to refuel with natural gas in your garage, or plug in a PHEV or EV, you start to see that the tankers, refineries, trucks and stations with tanks are all a big expense and potential hazard. This is what we grew up with and consider normal, but there are better ways.
Posted by: SJC | October 21, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Sjc the problem is if we drop all that we drop all those jobs and wages and taxes. That alone will be enough to pull quite a few states over the edge into finacial meltdown.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | October 22, 2009 at 03:41 AM
The oil industry does not employ all that many people in relation to the size of the business. Renewable energy would employ many more doing work that helps everyone.
Posted by: SJC | October 22, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Your failing to account for all the side industries and people who sell stuff to the people in the oil ind and all the taxes and fees it pays. Its actualy a massive web of connections.
Also renewable ind tends to EAT taxes instead of generating them.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | October 24, 2009 at 09:24 AM
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Smart business move for Air Liquide...few other companies would likely have the capability to do it right now.