Hydrogen Applications

The global demand for hydrogen is increasing significantly because of its wide range of applications covering many industries. Some of these industries include:

• Petroleum Refining and Upgrading
  Increase the value of the oil via petroleum sweetening (removing sulfur from crude oil) through a process known as hydrodesulphurization, as well as to convert heavy crude and tar sands to a more marketable product via upgrading.
  
  
• Chemical Synthesis
  Produce chemicals, mainly ammonia for fertilizers and methanol.
  
  
• Food
  Convert vegetable oils from liquids to solids; shortening is an example of hydrogenated oil.
  
  
• Fuel Cells
  The ideal fuel for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In a typical PEM fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine in a catalyzed electrochemical reaction to produce an electric current, heat and water, pure enough to drink.
  
  
• Transportation
  One of the very important applications of hydrogen is its addition to the fuel stream in the gasoline internal combustion engine to improve the overall performance. A significant reduction in the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and unburned hydrocarbon emissions with the addition of hydrogen is attributed with the lower combustion temperatures and better mixing, due to the high diffusivity of hydrogen. Hydrogen may also be burned alone in a standard combustion engine, with slight modification. This is known as the hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle (HICEV). Hydrogen burns much cleaner and more efficiently than gasoline which makes HICEs a realistic near-term transition technology.
  
  
• Power Generation
  Due to its high heat transfer efficiency, hydrogen is commonly used to cool down high speed turbine generators. H2 is also used in nuclear reactors to suppress intergranular stress corrosion cracking in the cooling system. Hydrogen can also be used in reciprocating engines and combustion turbines in place of traditional fuels to efficiently generate electricity and thermal zero emissions power (ZEP).
  
  
• Aerospace
  Hydrogen fuels both the main engine of the Space Shuttle and the onboard fuel cells that provide the Shuttle's electric power.
  
  
• Metal
  Hydrogen mixes with inert gases to obtain a reducing atmosphere, which is required for many applications in the metallurgical industry.
  
  
• Pharmaceuticals
  Manufacture vitamins A and C, cosmetics, adhesives and other pharmaceutical products.
  
  
• Electronics
  Create specially controlled atmospheres in the production of semiconductor circuits.