Nexant's staff is very familiar with hydrogen production technologies based on natural gas, naphtha, other hydrocarbon feedstocks, and renewable energy technologies. Nexant is also very familiar with upstream and downstream processing technologies such as feed gas desulfurization, shift reactor, acid gas removal, PSA, and methanation.
Nexant has evaluated advanced reformers and partial oxidizers, which are specially designed for fuel cell applications. The advanced reformers included those from IHI and Haldor Topsoe, developed based on convective rather than radiant heat transfer to reduce costs and physical sizes.
Through construction projects of refineries, ammonia/urea plants, methanol plants, LNG plants, NGL (natural gas liquids separation and processing) plants, and gasification plants, Nexant staff have extensive design experience on above ground gas storage for the final or intermediate gas products, including hydrogen. Nexant is also tracking the new hydrogen storage technologies, such as advanced metal hydrides, light weight composite material high pressure storage vessels, and carbon fiber storage.
Through these projects, Nexant is very familiar with the codes and standards and permitting processes of producing and using hydrogen. Failure modes and effects analyses are always conducted in the design and engineering for these projects.
Example projects are described below:
- Hydrogen Infrastucture Analysis: The US Department of Energy has selected Nexant as prime contractor for a $1.5 million project to develop a detailed infrastructure program and feasibility study to integrate the hydrogen infrastructure within the existing network of natural gas infrastructure. Nexant is working with Air Liquide, Pinnacle West, the Gas Technology Institute, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and US DOE to develop a conceptual feasibility study.
2006 Project Summary
- AC Transit Hydrogen Fueling Station: From 2004 to 2006, Nexant, in collaboration with Chevron, engineered and constructed a fuel cell bus demonstration plant for AC Transit in Oakland, California under funding from US Federal Transit Authority. Nexant provided the overall project management and also the modification of maintenance bay to service fuel cell buses, while Chevron installed the hydrogen production facility and dispensing station. The construction was completed at the end of 2006 and a ribbon cutting ceremony for the plant was held in March 2006. The 3 fuel cell buses have been running very successfully for revenue services since the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Fueling Station Fact Sheet
- Fuel Cell Experience: Nexant staff have been involved in fuel cell development for more than 20 years and have gained extensive knowledge and experience in all major types of fuel cells. Nexant has in-depth knowledge and experience in the construction and operation of fuel-cell based power systems. Through these fuel cell activities, Nexant has accumulated significant hands-on practical experience in fuel cell system design, integration, and operation, including hydrogen production. Nexant is intimately familiar with various supporting equipment for fuel cell systems, such as fuel processors and power conditioners. Nexant has also developed in-depth knowledge about technical issues and commercialization barriers currently faced by the fuel cell technology.
Major recent projects include:
- Cairo Fuel Cell Bus Project: Nexant/Bechtel managed a fuel cell bus demonstration project in Cairo under funding from United Nations Development Program, United Nations Global Environment Facility, and the Egyptian Government. This $24 million project featured twelve buses using PEM fuel cells as the power train and include the required hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing facilities.
- DOE Fuel Cell Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program: This project was a 4-year, $300 million demonstration project featuring three sites, 500 fuel cell vehicles, and building/operation of the associated hydrogen infrastructure. The infrastructure included hydrogen production from various fuels, setup of a hydrogen supply corridor, liquid hydrogen shipping, gaseous hydrogen compression/storage/fueling, and vehicle maintenance garages. DOE engaged Nexant/Bechtel to plan and manage the project.
- Support to CEC/GTI SOFC Development Program: In this $3 million development program co-funded by CEC (California Energy Commission) and GTI, Nexant provided the system simulation, integration, and cost estimation tools to support GTI in their SOFC development.
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Tan-Ping Chen
Senior Vice President, Energy Technology
Tel: +1 415 369 1077
Email: tpchen@nexant.com
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