Hydrogen plays an important role in the production of cleaner energy. Various reliable measuring and analysis instruments (gas analysers, pressure, flow and temperature measurement) help to improve the production process. They also reduce production costs and increase the service life of the installations.
New generation energy system based on electricity and hydrogen. Hydrogen and electricity are convertible to each other. It is expected to establish an environmentally friendly energy cycle by using them.
Production method | Raw materials | Energy | Features | Description | Instruments | |
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Conventional technology | Steam reforming | Water Methane | Heat | Cheapest method, account for 90% of world's H2 production, emits CO2 | Hydrocarbon and water vapor are heated in the presence of catalyst. H2 or mixture of CO and H2 are obtained. Light hydrocarbons such as methane, LPG, naphtha are used as raw materials. These materials needs to be desulfurized before use. | Pressure |
Conventional technology | Electrolysis | Water | Electricity | Used in the area where electricity is inexpensive (PV, wind power, etc.) | Electrolysis is not commonly used because hydrogen production from fossil fuel is much cheaper. | Pressure transmitter for electrolysis |
Conventional technology | Byproduct hydrogen Steelworks Soda industry | Coal Sea water | Heat Electricity | Supplies H2 for fuel cell, vehicles enough up to 2020-2030 | Hydrogen obtained as byproduct in manufacturing processes of steel, caustic soda, etc | Pressure Flowmeter for Byproduct hydrogen, Steelworks and Soda industry Temperature transmitter for Byproduct hydrogen, Steelworks and Soda industry |
Future technologies | Coal gasification | Coal Water | Heat (fossil fuel) | High-density H2 Low-quality coal waste | Carbon injected into a furnace reacts with O2 in the air to be CO2 and/or CO, or reacts with water vapor to be CO and H2. The obtained CO goes through reaction with water vapor, it is dissolved into CO2 and H2. CO + H2O -> CO2 + H2 | Temperature transmitter for Coal gasification |
Future technologies | Thermochemical, biomass gasification, photolysis, etc. | Water | Heat, electricity, solar (renewable energy) | Use of natural energy Low-density | Thermochemical: dissolves water by using heat or water vapor generated from power generation process. Photolysis: dissolve water via catalyst and sunlight. | Temperature transmitter for Thermochemical, biomass gasification, photolysis, etc. Flow meter for Thermochemical, biomass gasification, photolysis, etc. |