Hydrogen Plant - Application

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Hydrogen, the lightest of all gases is the most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen is a component of water, minerals and acids, as well as an essential part of all hydrocarbons and essentially all other organic substances. In the present context, Hydrogen has emerged, as a safe and cost-effective fuel for national energy and transportation needs.

Hydrogen has the highest combustion energy release per unit of weight of any commonly occurring material. A wide variety of industries have a requirement for high quality hydrogen as feedstock, either to chemically react with other raw materials and form new products or to ensure an atmosphere that prevents oxidation.

Hydrogen originates almost completely from chemical processes as by-product or as industrial raw material. It is presently used in the energy sector only in industrial applications. Basically any industry that uses hydrogen is a potential user of Hydrogen Plants. The following is a partial list of these industries: -

Food & Beverages Industry

Hydrogen Plants are primarily used in the food industry to hydrogenate unsaturated fatty acids and producing solid fats for margarine and other food products, like, soybean, fish, cottonseed, corn. Hydrogen is used to convert them into materials that are in semi-solid state.

The Chemical Industry

In the chemical industry hydrogen plants are used render large quantities as a raw material in the chemical synthesis of ammonia, methanol, hydrogen peroxide, polymers, and solvents. They are also employed to hydrogenate non-edible oils for soaps, insulation, plastics, ointments and other specialty chemicals.

Petroleum Refineries

In refineries, hydrogen is catalytically combined with various intermediate-processing streams and is used, in conjunction with catalytic cracking operations, to convert heavy and unsaturated compounds to lighter and more stable compounds.

Energy Sector

Using hydrogen for the purpose of generating energy is a revolutionary innovation. Huge Hydrogen Plants are employed at the power stations, as hydrogen is used as fuel to power fuel cell generators that create electricity through an electrochemical process in combination with oxygen.

Pharmaceuticals Industry

The pharmaceutical industry uses hydrogen to manufacture vitamins and other pharmaceutical products. 

The Metal Industry

Hydrogen Plants are a significant part of the metal industry. The gas mixes with inert gases to obtain a reducing atmosphere, which is required for many applications in the metallurgical industry.

The Aviation Industry

The hydrogen Plant fuels the spacecraft, and also the power life-support systems. Liquid hydrogen is also used as a rocket fuel.

Electronics Industry

Hydrogen is used as a carrier gas for active trace elements and creates specially controlled atmospheres in the production of semiconductor circuits.