Enhancing Fired Heaters Efficiency with Hydrogen as Fuel
Key Ideas
- Hydrogen is a promising fuel for organizations aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and meet ESG goals, especially in refineries and petrochemical plants.
- Increased hydrogen content in fuel can help lower CO2 emissions, but it may lead to higher NOx emissions, requiring proper emissions controls.
- Proper selection of emissions controls not only reduces capital and operational expenses but also minimizes secondary environmental impacts.
- Technological advancements like ClearSign Technologies' 100% hydrogen burner offer innovative solutions for efficient hydrogen firing with reduced NOx emissions.
Hydrogen is emerging as a favorable fuel option for organizations with ESG goals or regulatory obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Refineries and petrochemical plants, which already use hydrogen-rich fuel, are considering increasing the hydrogen content to reduce CO2 emissions. However, a higher hydrogen content can lead to increased NOx emissions, necessitating modifications in burners and proper emissions controls. The article discusses how NOx regulations, such as those by the EPA in the United States, impact decisions regarding NOx abatement strategies in different regions. Additionally, it explores the sourcing of hydrogen, including the production of 'blue hydrogen' from reformers with sequestered CO2. The establishment of regional hydrogen hubs in the United States aims to provide clean hydrogen to industries in hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Moreover, the article emphasizes the importance of selecting the right emissions control technology to reduce expenses and environmental impacts. It highlights the benefits of eliminating selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems in emissions control, especially in reducing ammonia slip and PM 2.5 emissions. The article also mentions ClearSign Technologies' innovative 100% hydrogen burner as a promising solution for efficient hydrogen firing with minimal NOx emissions.