How to Know if Your Compressor is Right for Producing Clean Hydrogen Energy

As green energy technology continues to evolve, clean hydrogen has emerged as a powerful and versatile energy carrier that more producers are incorporating into their production processes. This is in large part due to the fact that clean hydrogen that is produced using carbon capture technology can help reduce harmful emissions in a wide variety of industrial and manufacturing contexts where cutting carbon emissions has been a key challenge. 

Last year, the global demand for clean hydrogen energy production increased by almost 5%, a figure that is expected to increase in the coming years. In fact, the Biden Administration recently unveiled a $7 billion initiative to help promote and stimulate the growth of U.S.-based clean hydrogen production. 

The challenge in harnessing hydrogen for the production of clean energy is identifying the right industrial compressors to safely and efficiently handle the carbon capturing and storage processes that are part of hydrogen energy production. With this in mind, let’s look at what you need to know to determine whether your industrial compressor system is right for producing clean hydrogen energy.

what are the main types of hydrogen used in energy production

Hydrogen can be used to produce energy in a variety of ways, but not all methods of producing hydrogen energy are created equal. While some types of hydrogen energy production yields a final product that is more green or eco-friendly, other types of hydrogen energy production still produce high levels of carbon emissions. 

As such, it’s important to understand the three main types of hydrogen energy production used in the U.S. today. 

• Grey hydrogen: This type of hydrogen energy is produced by the steam reforming of natural gas. This process splits natural gas into hydrogen and CO², but the CO² byproduct is extremely carbon-intensive and makes grey hydrogen energy the least environmentally friendly. This is currently the most common form of hydrogen produced in the U.S.  
• Blue hydrogen: This type of hydrogen energy is produced using the same process as grey hydrogen, but blue hydrogen involves using a CO² capture and storage process (CCS) to virtually eliminate harmful emissions.
• Green hydrogen: Produced by water electrolysis and fueled by renewable sources like wind or solar power, green hydrogen is the ideal kind of clean energy production that can help usher in the next generation of sustainable power. 

There are a handful of unique challenges in the production of blue and green hydrogen energy. First, plant operators need the kind of leak-proof, durable compressor that can capture and contain the excess CO². What’s more, compressors used in the production of clean hydrogen energy must be able to operate for prolonged durations at high compressions ratios to produce clean energy in the most efficient way possible.

what are the ideal compressor design features for clean hydrogen production?

Diaphragm compressors are the preferred solution for performance and efficiency in the production of clean hydrogen energy. Part of what makes diaphragm compressors so compatible with clean hydrogen production is the high rate at which diaphragm compressors can compress and reduce the overall volume of a gas like hydrogen. This makes the gas easier to process, transport, and store. 

The design and engineering features of diaphragm compressors that make them ideal to produce clean hydrogen energy include: 

• High compression ratio. Diaphragm compressors can achieve compression ratios of 10:1 per stage via high levels of user control of both the contoured cavities and clearance volumes. This helps operators monitor and adjust compression rates based on real-time need for optimized efficiency and power consumption. 
• Product purity. The diaphragm-based design concept acts as a secure border between the hydrogen gas and the compressor’s hydraulic fluids. This helps ensure product purity by significantly reducing the chance of contamination from the gas mixing with any number of process fluids. 
• Increased environmental safety. The static seals often used in diaphragm compressors virtually eliminate the leakage of potentially harmful process gas or fluids during the production process. What’s more, diaphragm compressors designed to meet the API 618 standard provide the necessary environmental and safety compliance to be deployed in almost any application. 

Increased reliability and reduced maintenance intervals. Diaphragm compressors are an incredibly reliable, durable compressor solution due to the flexible diaphragm membranes used to compress and process gasses like hydrogen. This increased level of durability and reliability is key to energy production, a process that takes place on a 24/7, 365 basis, and one that can be hampered by frequent maintenance intervals.

How can ipec help hydrogen producers seize the opportunities in clean hydrogen energy production?

For more than 50 years, IPEC has been a partner with and the exclusive Ohio distributor of Sundyne, one of the leading manufacturers of compressors for clean hydrogen production. We have a longstanding, field-proven history of helping plant operators create custom Sundyne compressor solutions and packages to optimize their production of clean hydrogen energy. 

For example, our expert compressor specialists can help you experience the power, versatility, and efficiency of Sundyne’s PPI compressors, which have emerged as a reliable workhorse in the production of clean hydrogen energy. 

What’s more, our service technicians can help troubleshoot your compressor solutions in the field or in our newly expanded shop to help reduce your maintenance intervals, and to help keep your production on track no matter the circumstances 

Contact us to learn more about our compressor solutions for the production of clean hydrogen energy.