Hythane Owner Acquires HyRadix for On-Site Hydrogen Production
03 May 2007
Australia’s Eden Energy Ltd., the owners of the Hythane Company, has acquired US-based HyRadix, a company specializing in on-site autothermal reforming systems for the production of hydrogen from methane or LPG.
HyRadix’s autothermal reforming technology uses a bi-functional monolith autothermal reforming catalyst which generates the required reaction heat in the same reactor space where the reforming reaction takes place. There is no need for an external heat source to supply heat directly to the reactor.
HyRadix also has an on-going contract with a leading French petroleum industry research company to develop new methods of hydrogen production from liquids such as ethanol and glycerine.
Hythane is a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, usually 5-7% hydrogen by energy. (Earlier post.) Eden recently secured an agreement with one of India’s largest energy groups to market Hythane throughout the industrialized state of Gujarat, and a 10-year agreement with India’s large bus and heavy transport group, Ashok Leyland, to introduce Hythane across tens of thousands of public transport vehicles in India.
Use of Hythane has been found to reduce NOx emissions by 50%, non-methane hydrocarbons by 58%, methane by 16%, total hydrocarbons by 23% and CO2 by 7% compared to the use of 100% natural gas.
Eden says the HyRadix systems are a natural fit for integration with its own suite of hydrogen fuel technologies, in particular allowing for onsite production and dispensing of Hythane.
A combined Eden-HyRadix product provides an immediate opportunity to not only continue to supply the pure hydrogen market that HyRadix has been servicing, but also to supply a fully developed, complete Hythane system able to now be marketed in India, the United States, China and Europe.
It rapidly expands the market potential for an ultra-low emission, high efficiency blend of hydrogen and Natural Gas that can be the ideal transitional fuel between the hydrocarbon economy and the future hydrogen economy.
—Greg Solomon, Eden’s Executive Chairman
I don't see where you'd get a 7% reduction in CO2 unless they are just talking about 7% coming out of the reformer rather than the tailpipe.
Posted by: rhapsodyinglue | 03 May 2007 at 07:13 AM
Making a guess here, I would say that one possibility is that the hydrogen admixture increases the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine by changing the duration of the combustion event, or its temperature, or some other such parameter. That would allow one to consume less fuel for the same mechanical output, which allows you to cut CO2 emissions.
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 03 May 2007 at 09:28 AM
NBK-Boston, I agree. I think the speed of the hydrogen flame front makes the other fuel burn faster than without hydrogen. This increased combustion could make the fuel burn more completely while the piston is still near top dead center, hence greater effeciency.
Posted by: Andy | 03 May 2007 at 10:01 AM
Being that the oxidation of Hydrogen in combustion only results in H20 and no CO2, the up to 7% CO2 reduction more than likely comes from the up to 7% (by energy) addition of Hydrogen :).
Posted by: DRD T-bone | 03 May 2007 at 02:28 PM
*H2O not H 20 :)
Posted by: DRD T-bone | 03 May 2007 at 02:29 PM
DRD:
The point you make is the same question that rhapsodyinglue asked -- was the 7% reduction measured just at the tailpipe (caused by the fact that H2 combustion releases only H20), meaning that the same amount of total carbon was released, only part of it was transferred to the hydrogen production process? Or is it that total carbon release is down because the hydrogen mixture improves thermodynamic efficiency?
So far, we have no good reason to believe one possibility over the other. As I am not an automotive engineer, I will not venture to guess how likely my hypothesis about improved efficiency actually is.
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 03 May 2007 at 10:59 PM
If McDonalds used precooked hamburgers it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. No kidding but the hamburgers are still being cooked somewhere else.
Taking out Hydrogen from CNG takes 3.5 times more CNG per Hydrogen output. 7% hydrogen mixture means 24.5% more emissions. If we get Hydrogen from natural sources it will be cheaper to run on Beefeater.
Posted by: Henry | 04 May 2007 at 06:23 AM
Where does the reformed carbon go, and what is it used for? I assume it's not wasted but rather a case of fractionating carbon and hydrogen out of methane. Guess I should go Googling.
Posted by: Mark | 06 May 2007 at 07:50 PM
Back from Google. ;-) Uh, yeah, it's just a syngas system. The carbon goes to wherever carbon goes to, like a gasification-supplied powerplant.
Posted by: Mark | 06 May 2007 at 08:10 PM
You could get methane and hydrogen from gasifying biomass like corn stalks and switchgrass. If this mixture burns more cleanly then so much the better. Renewable, CO2 neutral and cleaner burning..very good.
Posted by: SJC | 06 May 2007 at 08:23 PM
There are developments in DME in China today!
We see great potential for DME as a clean alternative fuel . The present diesel oil is a major source of air pollution from diesel engine of trucks and busses in large city like Tokyo. The potential market of diesel oil substitute is larger than LPG. DME is one of ideal fuel for diesel engine. DME vehicles were demonstratively manufactured in Japan, China and Korea and their driving test already started. Practical durability fleet test of a DME truck is under going in Japan.
We are pleased to organise a conference on China taking the lead in the DME market in production from coal and Japan and Korea activities.
If you would like to know more on COAL to Syngas to DME developments, join us at upcoming North Asia DME / Methanol conference in Beijing, 27-28 June 2007, St Regis Hotel. The conference covers key areas which include:
DME productivity can be much higher especially if
country energy policies makes an effort comparable to
that invested in increasing supply.
By:
National Development Reform Commission NDRC
Ministry of Energy for Mongolia
Production of DME/ Methanol through biomass
gasification could potentially be commercialized
By:
Shandong University completed Pilot plant in Jinan and
will be sharing their experience.
Advances in conversion technologies are readily
available and offer exciting potential of DME as a
chemical feedstock
By: Kogas, Lurgi and Haldor Topsoe
Available project finance supports the investments
that DME/ Methanol can play a large energy supply role
By: International Finance Corporation
For more information: www.iceorganiser.com
Posted by: Cheryl Ho | 22 May 2007 at 09:33 PM