Growing worldwide energy demands, the depletion of fossil fuels and the environmental impact of burning these fuels has accelerated the need to develop energy alternatives. Hydrogen – with its high energy content and clean burning characteristics – is well recognized for its potential as a major energy carrier. Hydrogen is ideal to provide electricity and thermal energy for fuel cells in both mobile and stationary applications. Additionally, there is considerable interest in the possibility of injecting hydrogen directly into internal combustion engines in transportation applications.
SemGreen is developing an innovative reforming process for low-cost hydrogen production from renewable feedstock. SemGreen’s technology breaks down ethanol at ambient temperature into a mix of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, with some carbon monoxide and light hydrocarbons intermixed.
Performance criteria are being measured by comparing reformer characteristics – such as thermal efficiency, energy use, start-up time and product structure – with that of conventional stream reforming. When completed, the SemGreen technology is expected to provide a fuel processing unit that is –
- More energy efficient and economical to operate that competing systems
- Compact in size and lower in overall weight than similar options
- Capable of cold starts ups
- Reforms hydrogen for a cost-effective investment
Currently, nine patents associated with SemGreen’s technology are pending.
Product Applications
SemGreen is targeting two applications for its new hydrogen fuel reformer technology.
- The hydrogen reformer – when integrated with the SemGreen generator – should make portable fuel cell power readily available from low-cost bio fuels or available natural fuels.
- The reformer is coupled with a fuel cell to form a generator with power capability in the 1-10 Kwh range.
- The supplied hydrogen’s carbon monoxide content will be high in purity – below 10ppm with trace hydrocarbons removed – as is required for this end-use.
- A modified hydrogen fuel reformer – to be used on a commercial basis with an internal combustion engine. Additional development work regarding this application is ongoing.