Producing Hydrogen from Landfill Using Solar Thermal Technology-Dry Reformation

SHEC has been a world leader in clean renewable hydrogen research and is about to become one of the world leaders in hydrogen production with its innovative use of the sun’s energy to create hydrogen from landfill gas. Not only will SHEC create a valuable fuel source, but it will do so by using a form of renewable methane and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from landfill sites.

SHEC has constructed and demonstrated a Dry Fuel Reformation (DFR) system to produce hydrogen using methane that is powered primarily by sunlight-focusing mirrors. The system comprises a solar mirror array, an advanced solar concentrator, a shutter system to control the amount of radiant energy entering the reactor, and two thermo-catalytic reactors that will convert methane, carbon dioxide and water into hydrogen.

Methane from sources such as biogas, landfill gas, flare gas, stranded gas and coal-bed methane is recovered through a collection system consisting of a series of pipes in the ground. When using SHEC’s proprietary process and using renewable methane sources high purity hydrogen and commercial grade carbon dioxide are produced.

Renewable methane generated from biomass and converted to hydrogen using SHEC’s processes results in both a reduction in harmful methane gas entering the atmosphere (methane is 21x more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide) and provides significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions over most traditional hydrogen production technologies.

Traditionally, hydrogen is produced by splitting the hydrogen molecules from fossil fuels. This process is a net energy user, as the energy needed to split the molecules often comes from electricity or natural gas.

SHEC’s process is unique because it not only diminishes greenhouse gasses by consuming the methane and carbon dioxide emitted by landfills, but uses the sun for the required process heat to drive the reaction that in turn provides a renewable source of energy and when the process uses sunlight, leads to a net energy gain.

The test facility in Arizona has shown that for every 1 m³ of methane feed produces approximately 3.9 m³ of hydrogen in the process. In energy terms 1 m³ of methane equals approximately 40 MJ of thermal energy and 3.9 m³ of hydrogen equals approximately 45.7 MJ of thermal energy, which is a net energy gain of over 14% for the demonstration unit.

About SHEC.

SHEC started in 1996 as a company doing research in the production of hydrogen using solar technology. SHEC has developed:

•advanced solar concentration and receiver technology for the efficient collection of solar energy

•solar reactor, solar modulation and heat transfer technology

•catalyst and synthesis technology

•technologies for proprietary manufacturing processes

SHEC has formed strategic partnerships with a number of universities, engineering firms and coalitions to globally deploy its technology.

SHEC is currently working on deployment of Solar Hydrogen production stations that will turn waste greenhouse gas emissions from landfills into hydrogen. This technology uses a two step process to first create synthesis gases that are then turned into hydrogen. These synthesis gases from the first step of this process can be used to create other alternative fuels, including liquid fuels.

SHEC is also working to deploy its technology for power generation and is forming partnerships to pursue the deployment of facilities to generate several gigawatts from solar energy.

SHEC can also use its technology for industrial process and district heating. SHEC is currently working to establish new green community developments.

The first solar hydrogen generator is planned for the Fleet Street Landfill in Regina Saskatchewan, Canada . The Reformation process will be as follows:

1.Landfill gas, made up of mainly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), will be captured at the site.

2.SHEC’s partner, Clean 16 Environmental Technologies, will design the gas cleaning systems to prepare the feed gases for use in SHEC’s solar hydrogen generator.

3.The cleaned methane and carbon dioxide will be processed by SHEC’s Dry Fuel Reformation (DFR) Process.

4.Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are fed into the first reactor that is heated by the solar mirror array and the methane is reformed into hydrogen gas (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The carbon monoxide is further reacted with water (H2O) in a second reactor, known as a Water Gas Shift Reactor (WGSR) to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide as the final product gases.

Three patents have been filed in respect to this technology and have proceeded to the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) stage. Eventually, patents will be filed in each country that will use the technology. There are other potential applications for existing technology, which include the conversion of sour natural gas, coal-bed methane, biomass and potentially splitting hydrogen from water.