GAS-L: Tin reformer details

[Peter Singfield <snkm@btl.net>]

Ok -- just typing the details -- as explained from the Alchemix site --
which is a graphic only -- no way to copy and paste.

Pure hydrogen (H2) is produced in a high temperature environment when water
(steam) is exposed to molten tin.

The oxygen in steam bonds with the tin to form tin oxide thus freeing the
hydrogen gas from the water molecule.

High temperature causes this reaction to occur very rapidly.

2(H20) + Sn = SnO2 + 2(H2)

The ability to reform tin from tin oxide is essential to the economic
production of hydrogen.

The transformation is achieved by sparging carbon monoxide (CO) through the
molten tin oxide. Since oxygen atoms are more strongly attracted to the CO
molecule than to the tin oxide molecule, the oxygen is stripped away from
the tin oxide transforming it back into pure tin.

In this way, the tin can be used again and again to bond with the oxygen in
steam and produce hydrogen.

2(CO) + SnO2 = Sn + 2CO2

******************

Ok -- now onto extracts from their "propaganda" -- 

************************

Hydrogen is currently produced almost entirely by means of steam methane
reformation (SMR). Compared to SMR, H2 Coal Refining has several major
advantages, the most fundamental of which is linked to the economics of
their respective feedstocks. SMR requires natural gas, which is more
expensive, price volatile and its supply is far less reliable than coal.
Although coal prices have risen sharply in recent months, demand is
specifically for low sulfur coal in a market driven by power generators
required to reduce sulfur emissions by Clean Air Act regulations. H2 Coal
Refining can efficiently and cleanly use virtually any coal, including high
sulfur coals, for which other uses are almost nonexistent. This weak demand
should allow long-term, low-cost supply contracts for high sulfur coal.

Furthermore, while SMR is restricted solely to natural gas/methane as a
feedstock, H2 Coal Refining can supplement coal with any number of organic
materials (hydrocarbons). These feedstocks can include typically low-cost
materials such as tar sands and petroleum coke. It can also include
materials available for no cost or even a negative cost when a tipping fee
is paid for removal. Examples include municipal waste, animal waste, tires,
medical waste, sewage sludge and hazardous wastes. 

Currently, the projected cost of hydrogen from an H2 Coal Refinery is $0.04
per pound compared to production costs of $0.40 per pound using SMR
assuming the price of natural gas is $5.00 per MMBtu. Neither of these cost
estimates includes capital. Both assume credits for the current market
value of by-products -- fly ash and MRG in the case of H2 Coal Refining and
steam in the case of SMR. 

*****************************

So -- promise of a 10 to 1 cost reduction!!!

*****************************

Alchemix's H2 Technologies division has applied for 4 patents with more
than 100 claims of novelty relating to the low cost production of clean
hydrogen and methane from coal. The aggregated technologies have been named
H2 Coal Refining.

*****************************

OK -- patent search time!! That should answer a lot of questions!!

*****************************

When hydrocarbons are placed into a pure hydrogen environment at high
temperature they will very quickly transform into methane gas. This is true
because methane is the most stable hydrocarbon and when less complete
hydrocarbons are exposed to unlimited hydrogen atoms they will add as many
to their structure as are required to get to methane. 

*****************************

A hydrogenation chamber is basically a combustion chamber where dry organic
material is reduced chemically to methane CH4 instead of being burned. A
hydrogenation chamber and combustion chamber are similar in that both must
present maximum surface area of the material to be reacted (chemically
oxidized or reduced). So, depending upon the size, shape, or amount of
associated non-organic material, different configurations will prove more
or less effective. Experiments will prove which work best as hydrogenation
reactors for various feedstocks. 

******************************

Even persistent (hard to break down) hydrocarbons such as PCB's, dioxins,
and nerve gas can be reduced to methane in the presence of hydrogen at
elevated temperature. This method is used commercially today by the United
States Department of Defense to eliminate toxic hydrocarbons. 

******************************

When coal is hydrogenated, the ash and fixed carbon (non-volatile material)
contained in the coal are not transformed into methane. Instead, they will
form a low-sulfur coke that is a precursor for other valuable products. The
contaminants in coal such as fluorine, chlorine, sulfur, and nitrogen will
react in the gaseous state with hydrogen to form acid gases and ammonia. 

******************************

Activated carbon produced from coconut husks often sells above $2,000 per ton.

******************************

It should be noted that the efficiency of conversion of thermal to
electrical energy for a combined cycle power plant is over 80% greater than
that of a coal fired boiler. 

*****************************

Note here: Ergo Cornelius -- dual cycling with steam to refrigerant working
fluid (AKA -- geothermal power plant) You get to "top" twice. Another
subject -- for another day -- but an easy way to increase over all
efficiencies of that coal fired power plant quickly -- and without blowing
a fortune.

*****************************

As a practical matter, much of the current fleet of coal fired power
stations in the United States are very old and will require substantial
modification if they are to meet impending nitrous oxide (NOx) and mercury
emissions standards. 

*****************************

Waste to Energy: A substantial portion of municipal waste is comprised of
hydrocarbons that become methane when exposed to hydrogen at high
temperatures. Methane can be burned in a combine cycle plant to produce
electricity cleanly and efficiently. 

*****************************

Hydrogen (Fuel Cells): Pure hydrogen is used to fuel stationary and mobile
applications of fuel cells to generate usable energy with zero toxic
emissions. Small fuel cells generating power from remote locations, a
concept called "distributed generation", is currently a small but rapidly
growing market, especially for applications, such as back-up power for
sensitive electronics operations and hospitals, where power quality and
reliability are critical. In the more distant future, large fuel
cell-powered generating plants are expected to supply increasingly
significant amounts of electricity demand. 

Hydrogen used in a fuel cell has the advantage of an energy conversion
efficiency that is 60% or greater as compared to less than 20% for
gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. Tail pipe emissions from fuel
cell powered vehicles consists of water vapor as opposed to the carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulates emitted from gasoline engines. 


****************************



-
Gasification List Archives:
http://www.crest.org/discussion/gasification/current/

Gasification List Moderator:
Tom Reed, Biomass Energy Foundation,  Reedtb2@cs.com
www.webpan.com/BEF
List-Post: <mailto:gasification@crest.org>
List-Help: <mailto:gasification-help@crest.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:gasification-unsubscribe@crest.org>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:gasification-subscribe@crest.org>

Sponsor the Gasification List: http://www.crest.org/discuss3.html
-
Other Gasification Events and Information:
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/bioam/
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/gasref.shtml
http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/biomass-info/