Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (HENG): Generation and Applications in Combined Heat and Power Generation and as a Fuel for High Efficiency Boilers

摘要

We describe a pre-commercial process for the in line production of hydrogen and solid,nanoscale carbon from a natural gas feedstock that avoids concomitant generation of CO_2.The process is pre-commercial scale (25-50 Nm~3/hr) and exhibits acceptable energyefficiencies (2-3 kW-hr/Nm~3 H_2) and reliable long-term performance. In this report we reviewthe long term operational characteristics of the Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (HENG) pilotplant (the “CarbonSaver?”) and describe the combustion characteristics of HENG as a fuel inreal-world applications. HENG is used to fuel a 75 kW Tecogen combined heat and power(CHP) generator employed in a net metering environment and providing electricity and heat toour facility. Performance characteristics and emissions profiles of the internal combustionengine in the CHP unit are described when using both HENG and natural gas fuels. Similarly,the performance and emissions characteristics of a New York Thermal residential heatingboiler and of a high efficiency, low NOx regenerative burner are described and contrasted fornatural gas vs. HENG fuels.