Hydrogen distribution networks and related methods

• US 20070020173A1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Repasky, John, Miller, Robert, Pham, Hoanh, Copeman, Tama
• Application Number:
  US11/188,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/650
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0238 the reforming step being a carbon dioxide reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0244 the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/025 containing a partial oxidation step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0277 containing a catalytic decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/38 using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0668 Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/34 Hydrogen distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/141 Feedstock
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A hydrogen distribution network comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system; a hydrogen distribution system; and (c) two or more hydrogen production facilities wherein (1) the hydrogen production facilities produce minimal or no net excess steam for export and comprise at least one hydrogen production module interconnected to a purification system, (2) the at least one hydrogen production module (a) is configured to receive hydrocarbon feedstock from the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system (b) reacts the hydrocarbon feedstock chemically to produce (i) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (ii) minimal or no net excess steam for export; (c) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and (d) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to a purification system; and (3) the purification system is configured to purify the hydrogen-containing product gas and to export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

Claims

1. A hydrogen distribution network comprising:

(a) a hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system;

(b) a hydrogen distribution system; and

(c) two or more hydrogen production facilities which produce minimal or no net excess steam for export, wherein (1) the hydrogen production facilities comprise at least one hydrogen production module interconnected to a purification system, (2) the at least one hydrogen production module (a) is configured to receive hydrocarbon feedstock from the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system (b) reacts the hydrocarbon feedstock chemically to produce (i) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (ii) minimal or no net excess steam for export;

(c) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and

(d) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to the purification system; and

(3) the purification system is configured to purify the hydrogen-containing product gas and to export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

2. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen production facilities do not produce net excess steam for export.

3. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein one or more hydrogen production modules generate a hydrogen-containing product gas by steam reforming, dry reforming, autothermal reforming, partial oxidation, or non-oxidative catalytic decomposition.

4. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system is either an existing natural gas distribution system or a system which receives hydrocarbon feedstock from an industrial hydrocarbon feedstock source.

5. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1 comprising a hydrogen production facility comprised of two or more hydrogen production modules that produce a hydrogen-containing product gas by the same chemical reaction.

6. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the hydrogen production modules is a Modular Partition Reformer

7. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen distribution system includes a hydrogen fueling station.

8. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 7, wherein the hydrogen fueling station is a vehicular hydrogen fueling station.

9. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen distribution system distributes a purified hydrogen-containing product gas to an industrial gas application, a stationary fuel cell, or to a transportation application.

10. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen production facilities export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to more than one hydrogen distribution system.

11. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen production facilities export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the same hydrogen distribution system.

12. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, further comprising control means associated with the hydrogen production facilities, hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system, and hydrogen distribution system to regulate the supply of hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrogen production facilities and the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system.

13. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 12, wherein the control means regulate the supply of hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrogen production facilities and the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system based on the rate at which purified hydrogen-containing product gas is distributed from the hydrogen distribution system.

14. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system is a natural gas distribution system; and

(b) the hydrogen production facilities comprise at least one Modular Partition Reformer which (i) is configured to receive natural gas from the natural gas distribution system (ii) reacts the natural gas chemically to produce (1) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (2) minimal or no net excess steam for export;

(iii) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and

(iv) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to the purification system.

15. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 14, further comprising a hydrogen fueling station.

16. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 14 comprising control means associated with the hydrogen production facilities, natural gas distribution system, and hydrogen distribution system to regulate the supply of natural gas to the hydrogen production facilities and the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system.

17. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 12, wherein the control means are associated with an external database for the transmission of data which does not relate to a hydrogen distribution network process parameter and wherein the control means regulate the supply of hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrogen production facilities and the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system in response to such data.

18. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 16, wherein the control means are associated with an external database for the transmission of data which does not relate to a hydrogen distribution network process parameter and wherein the control means regulate the supply of natural gas to the hydrogen production facilities and the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system in response to such data.

27. A method comprising increasing the hydrogen-containing product gas production capacity of a hydrogen distribution network of claim 1 by:

(1) adding one or more additional hydrogen production modules to the at least one hydrogen production module;

or (2) adding one or more additional hydrogen production facilities to the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution network and hydrogen distribution network.

28. A method comprising expanding a hydrogen distribution network of claim 1 by expanding the hydrogen distribution system.

29. A method of claim 28, wherein expansion of the hydrogen distribution system includes interconnecting a hydrogen fueling station to the hydrogen distribution system.

30. A method of optimizing the generation and distribution of a purified hydrogen-containing product gas in a hydrogen distribution network of claim 12, comprising using the control means to regulate either:

(a) the supply of hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrogen production facilities, or (b) the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system.

31. A method of optimizing the generation and distribution of a purified hydrogen-containing product gas in a hydrogen distribution network of claim 17, comprising:

(a) transmitting data which does not relate to a hydrogen distribution network process parameter from the external database to the control means; and

(b) in response to the transmitted data, using the control means to regulate either;

(i) the supply of hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrogen production facilities, or (ii) the export of purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system.

32. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, comprising at least two hydrogen production facilities which:

(1) each consume less than around 75,000 btu of hydrocarbon feedstock on a higher heating value basis per pound of purified hydrogen- containing product gas produced; and

(2) which each produce substantially no net excess steam for export.

33. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 32, wherein the hydrogen distribution system distributes a purified hydrogen-containing product gas to an industrial gas application, a stationary fuel cell, or to a transportation application.

34. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen distribution system is a pipeline distribution system.

35. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen distribution system is not a pipeline distribution system.

36. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen distribution system includes a pipeline distribution system and a hydrogen distribution system that is not a pipeline distribution system.

37. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the hydrogen production modules is a microchannel reformer or HGM hydrogen generation module.

38. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 1, wherein a hydrogen production module and interconnected purification system are integrated and comprise a single process unit.

19. A method of generating and distributing a purified hydrogen-containing product gas comprising:

(a) distributing a hydrocarbon feedstock from a hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system to two or more hydrogen production facilities;

(b) generating a purified hydrogen-containing product gas in the hydrogen production facilities by chemical reaction of the hydrocarbon feedstock to yield a hydrogen-containing product gas, which is purified to yield the purified hydrogen-containing product gas; and

(c) exporting the purified hydrogen-containing product gas from the hydrogen production facilities to a hydrogen distribution system, wherein the hydrogen production facilities produce minimal or no net excess steam for export and comprise at least one hydrogen production module interconnected to a purification system, and wherein (1) the at least one hydrogen production module (a) is configured to receive the hydrocarbon feedstock from the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system (b) reacts the hydrocarbon feedstock chemically to produce (i) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (ii) minimal or no net excess steam for export;

(c) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and

(d) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to the purification system; and

wherein (2) the purification system is configured to purify the hydrogen-containing product gas and to export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein:

(1) the hydrocarbon feedstock is natural gas;

(2) at least one hydrogen production module produces a hydrogen-containing product gas by steam reforming of the natural gas; and

(3) no hydrogen production module produces net excess steam for export.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein at least one hydrogen production module is a Modular Partition Reformer.

22. A method of claim 19, wherein the hydrogen distribution system includes a hydrogen fueling station.

23. A method of claim 22, wherein the hydrogen fueling station is a vehicular hydrogen fueling station.

24. A method for distributing a fuel comprising dispensing a purified hydrogen-containing product gas from a hydrogen distribution system to a storage tank, wherein the purified hydrogen-containing product gas (a) is generated in two or more hydrogen production facilities;

and (b) is exported from the hydrogen production facilities to the hydrogen distribution system; and

wherein (1) the hydrogen production facilities produce minimal or no net excess steam for export and comprise at least one hydrogen production module interconnected to a purification system, (2) the at least one hydrogen production module (a) is configured to receive hydrocarbon feedstock from a hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system (b) reacts the hydrocarbon feedstock chemically to produce (i) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (ii) minimal or no net excess steam for export;

(c) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and

(d) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to a purification system; and

(3) the purification system is configured to purify the hydrogen-containing product gas and to export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

25. A method of claim 24, wherein:

(a) the hydrogen distribution system comprises a hydrogen fueling station;

(b) purified hydrogen-containing product gas is distributed from the hydrogen distribution system to the storage tank at the hydrogen fueling station; and

(c) the storage tank is installed at a residential or industrial facility.

26. A method of claim 24, wherein:

(a) the hydrogen distribution system comprises a vehicular hydrogen fueling station;

(b) purified hydrogen-containing product gas is distributed from the hydrogen distribution system to the storage tank at the vehicular hydrogen fueling station; and

(c) the storage tank is a vehicular storage tank.

39. A hydrogen distribution network comprising:

(a) a hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system;

(b) a hydrogen distribution system; and

(c) two or more hydrogen production facilities wherein (1) the hydrogen production facilities produce minimal or no net excess steam for export and comprise at least one hydrogen production module which may be optionally interconnected to a purification system; and

(2) the at least one hydrogen production module (a) is configured to receive hydrocarbon feedstock from the hydrocarbon feedstock distribution system (b) reacts the hydrocarbon feedstock chemically to produce (i) a hydrogen-containing product gas, and (ii) minimal or no net excess steam for export;

(c) is configured for optional interconnection to one or more additional hydrogen production modules; and

(d) is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

40. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 39, wherein the hydrogen distribution system contains a purification system which purifies the hydrogen-containing product gas to yield purified hydrogen-containing product gas.

41. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 39, wherein (a) the at least one hydrogen production module is configured to export the hydrogen-containing product gas to a purification system contained within the hydrogen production facility;

and (b) the purification system is configured to purify the hydrogen-containing product gas and to export purified hydrogen-containing product gas to the hydrogen distribution system.

42. A hydrogen distribution network of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen distribution system contains a purification system.