Methanol-to-hydrogen onboard conversion system a reality now
US-based gas system technology firm RIX Industries has developed a system that produces hydrogen out of methanol onboard a vessel.
PHOTO: A model of RIX Industries methanol-to hydrogen generator system - RIX M2H2. RIX Industries
RIX Industries has developed a hydrogen generator system that produced hydrogen onboard vessels and on-demand. The company uses methanol that is first blended with deionised water to make a feedstock which it claims carries about 30-40% more hydrogen than regular methanol.
In the catalytic convertor, the liquid feedstock is injected and heated. The heating process generates gas, which is later transferred to hydrogen purifier system, to separate high-purity hydrogen from the gas. The syngas also generated during the heating process is sent back to generate heat for the catalytic reactor.
The hydrogen produced using this system can either be consumed by fuel cells onboard vessels or transferred to an internal combustion engine to supplement other liquid marine fuels to reduce emissions, RIX Industries says.
The company claims the system emits no nitrogen oxide or sulphur oxide during the entire process. It says these systems can be also deployed onshore to generate power for shore power systems in ports.
The system partially solves the problem of storing hydrogen fuel at a cryogenic temperature for the shipping industry. In addition, it is said to make vessels more efficient and save space.
RIX Industries has already received initial orders of 10 units from US-based maritime asset management firm Maritime Partners. They plan to incorporate these systems onboard their upcoming fuel cells-powered towboats.
By Nithin Chandran
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