| The First Process-Oriented Instrument for the Analysis of Ultra-Trace Level Permanent Gases, NMHC and Sulfur in Fuel-Grade Hydrogen Manfred Mauntz1; Jorn Peuser1; Yves Gamache2; André Lamontagne2; Marc-antoine Langevin2; 1CMC INSTRUMENTS GMBH, Eschborn, Germany; 2ASDEVICES, Thetford, Canada; PAPER: 488/Energy/Regular (Oral) SCHEDULED: 15:55/Mon. 28 Nov. 2022/Game ABSTRACT: Hydrogen fuel cells are among the most promising devices for powering vehicles and are expected to soon become a major technology that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emission. In order to provide hydrogen to vehicles, a robust process-oriented analytical solution is required to properly certify its quality. ASDevices have spent the last 4 years developing a complete portfolio of technology for this very application. Over the past years, ASDevices established itself as the experts in process-oriented ultra-trace analysis of permanent gases and NMHC in various matrices, including hydrogen. For sulfur analysis, detectors such as Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detectors (SCD) or Pulsed Flame Photometric Detectors (PFPD) have been traditionally used. However, due to their complexity, need for maintenance and use of hazardous gases such as ozone, these instruments are not adapted for continuous process monitoring and are limited to laboratory testing. More recently, ASDevices developed a robust method for the measurement of sulfur compounds using the Epd technology in combination with the iMov GC platform without the need of a sample concentrator. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the Epd technology, sub-ppb level limits of detection have been achieved for the permanent gases, NMHC and sulfur compounds. Therefore, an explosionproof version of the iMov GC platform was designed and was configured to combine these analyzes, making it the first process-oriented instrument combining the analysis of permanent gases, NMHC and sulfur compounds in fuel-grade hydrogen. The presentation will cover the various technologies and the results obtained from ASDevices solution which was installed at the Sinopec Yanshan plants that will generate H2 for the 2022 winter Olympics. References: [1] James G. Speight. Synthesis Gas and the Fischer-Tropsch Process, The Refinery of the Future (Second Edition), 2020. [2] National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Blending Hydrogen into Natural Gas Pipeline Networks: A Review of Key Issues, 2013. [3] US Department of Energy. Hydrogen Fuel Quality Specifications for Fuel Cells in Road Vehicles, 2016. [4] Alberta Environment. Assessment Report on Reduced Sulfur Compounds for Developing Ambient Air Quality Objectives, 2004. [5] WHO. Hydrogen sulfide. Environmental health criteria No. 19, WHO, Geneva, 1981. [6] International Society of Beverage Technologists. Carbon Dioxide Quality Guidelines, Food Safety Magazine, 2000. [7] A. S. Brown, et al. Methods for the Analysis of Trace-Level Contaminants in Hydrogen for Fuel Cells Applications, NPL Reports AS 64, 2011. [8] R. L. Shearer. Development of Flameless Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detection: Application to Gas Chromatography, Anal. Chem., 1992, 64, 2192-2196 [9] Chromedia Analytical Sciences. FPD : Flame Photometric Detector, accessed January 2022. [10] ASDevices. AN-09 – Trace-Level Measurement of Sulfur-Based Compounds in Hydrogen with the Epd Technology, 2019. [11] ASDevices. AN-15 – Trace Sulfur in H2 Analysis Without SCD, FPD and Thermal Desorber, A Process GC Solution – KA8000plus Sulfurs in Fuel-Grade H2 Test Report, 2020. [12] C. Xu et al. Analytical Progress of Trace Impurities in Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Vehicles, Chem. Ind. Eng. Prog., 2021, 40 (2), 688-702. [13] ASDevices. AN-08 – PLSV Technology – A Quantum Leap for Chromatographic Valves, 2019. [14] ASDevices. AN-10 – PLSV Improved Valve Technology for Ultra-trace Sulfur Analysis, 2019. [15] ASDevices. AN-13 – PLSV Pressure Drop Dead Volume: PLSV Against Diaphragm Valve, 2020. [16] ASDevices. TN-05 – The Power of Spectral Compensation for Fast Nitrogen Measurement in Oxygen with the Enhanced Plasma Discharge Technology, 2019. [17] Thermo Fisher Scientific. Choosing the Ideal Ferrule for your GC Application, 2012. |
