Transport accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, making it one of the largest contributors, the Environmental Protection Agency reveals.Hydrogen has the power to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, yet hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars aren’t yet commonplace – there’s just under 7,000 currently in the U.S. Archigas’ hydrogen analysis technology can make the hydrogen extraction process easier than ever before, and therefore holds the potential to revolutionize the green transportation sector.
Hydrogen cars = lower emissions
Hydrogen gas has no color, smell, or taste, and is completely non-toxic. Since hydrogen doesn’t generate greenhouse gas emissions, it can decrease pollution as an alternative to fossil fuels. Notably, in contrast to gasoline, hydrogen can burn effectively even in “fuel-lean conditions”: environments with less fuel than oxygen. In turn, fuel efficiency improves, while nitrogen oxide emissions also decrease. When it comes to delivery emissions, in particular, last-mile delivery (moving products from warehouses to customer’s doorsteps) accounts for up to 50%. Streamlining last-mile delivery is therefore important for optimizing efficiency and customer satisfaction, as well as decreasing emissions. In fact, by choosing to specialize in sustainability – by, for example, making deliveries by bicycle in urban areas – businesses can better improve their environmental footprint, slash emissions, and stand out against the competition.
Extracting hydrogen
However, despite being the most common element in existence (hydrogen accounts for as much as 90% of all atoms in the universe), it doesn’t exist on its own. Hydrogen needs to be extracted from water by electrolysis (the resulting product is called green hydrogen). Here’s where Archigas’ hydrogen analysis technology can help: these gas-measuring sensors can be installed virtually anywhere that produces, mixes, distributes, stores, and uses hydrogen to generate energy. The sensors are also available in a number of different designs to effectively perform tasks, including, extracting hydrogen by electrolysis, testing gas purity, performing quality control, and monitoring the gas.
Even better, these sensors are designed to meet the unique needs of each individual business, and can be easily installed into systems as needed. Specifically, Archigas’ hydrogen analysis technology combines two innovative technologies: the thermal conductivity measurement principle (TCD sensors), and MEMS technology (semiconductors based on silicon wafers). As a result, identical sensors can easily be reproduced en-mass – eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming calibration.
Fossil fuel refinement
Hydrogen is currently mostly used in oil refineries producing fossil fuel. Specifically, hydrogen removes impurities like sulfur and cracks heavy-weight fractions into lighter products – in fact, oil refining is one of the largest hydrogen markets. However, the type of hydrogen used for this is typically black, brown, or gray, which isn’t as environmentally-friendly as green hydrogen. Fortunately, by making it easier to extract green hydrogen, Archigas’ hydrogen analysis technology can help further reduce emissions in this area.
Hydrogen is key to creating a greener transportation sector. By embracing Archigas’ hydrogen analysis technology, businesses can streamline and optimize the extraction process and lower carbon emissions.
Written by: Nina McCann
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