The lightest element in the periodic table, hydrogen (H), is used for weather balloons, processing petroleum products, glass production, and heat-treating furnaces for steel production. As a highly flammable gas, Hydrogen is commonly used in a variety of chemical processes, such as hydrogen fuel cells to power cars and in fuel celled forklifts. Hydrogen’s popularity is increasing because it’s reliable, versatile, and can be produced in a variety of ways.
Hydrogen has only one proton and one electron, making it the simplest element and is considered a clean and renewable resource. It’s not toxic to human health, as no harmful byproducts are released into the atmosphere.
Hydrogen comes in a variety of “colors.” What this means exactly, is that hydrogen manufacturing methods of separating hydrogen from various compounds (water, ammonia, methane, etc.), and the emissions that result thereafter, are labeled as three main color distinctions: brown, green, and blue.
Brown hydrogen – which comprises 95% of hydrogen production – is the byproduct of fossil fuels. Steam reforming and gasification is the separation of hydrogen atoms from carbon atoms in either natural gas or coal production. During this process of gasification, carbon dioxide emissions are high.
Electrolysis is the process in which an electrical current is used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. When hydrogen is harvested, only oxygen is left over. The lack of Co2 emissions makes this production method green.
Blue hydrogen is the capture and storage of hydrogen during steam methane reformation, which causes some, but reduced, carbon dioxide emissions.
Liquid or compressed Hydrogen gas available in various concentrations and purities
U.S. petroleum refineries use hydrogen to lower the sulfur content of fuels. Crude oil is introduced into refining facilities, then hydrogen is typically added. Refining oil requires removing sulfur in the oil until it reaches acceptable levels for the desired fuel type. Hydrogen bonds to the sulfur to create hydrogen sulfide, which can be extracted from the fuel further along in the refining process.
Nearly all the hydrogen consumed in the United States is used by industry for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, purifying glass, and processing foods. Hydrogen is also used in steel making and for fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells for machinery, construction, and warehouse equipment is a unique option because unlike their electric counterparts, they can perform for much longer. When it comes to efficiency, electric machines can be a nuisance. But with hydrogen fuel, forklifts for example, are fueled in under three minutes. Battery-powered forklifts require tedious maintenance to charge, clean, equalize, and to ensure batteries are not corroding. Hydrogen fueling systems can be installed onsite, taking up minimal space and meeting an immediate need.
Hydrogen has always played an important role as a rocket fuel. This is because it is the fuel that concentrates the most energy: 1 kg of hydrogen contains 3 times more energy than 1 kg of gasoline. NASA also uses hydrogen for other electrical systems aboard spacecraft. Increased interest in aerospace travel means that hydrogen will continue to be innovatively stored, measured, processed, and employed.