Episode 108 | Molecular Milestone | Q Hydrogen
There are two industrial methods for producing hydrogen, steam reformation of methane and electrolysis. Both of these methods are more energy-intensive than the hydrogen they create. The value of hydrogen is that it's carbon-free and can be a valuable energy storage solution.
Utah-based Q Hydrogen says they have a new solution for splitting water into hydrogen that is far less energy-intensive. The method involves "waveform discs," machined plates with special metallurgy that form a turbine for creating H2.
Q Hydrogen CEO Whit Irvin, Jr. says his father, Whit Sr., began working on this solution 25 years ago while Whit was still young. "He called it his 'going to his cave period,'" says Whit. About ten years ago the company began developing this solution for hydrogen.
Instead of Utah, Q Hydrogen has chosen a space in Groveton, New Hampshire, for its demonstration facility. The space had been a paper mill from 1891-2007. Whit says Q Hydrogen settled on the space for New Hampshire's deregulated energy market and the hospitable regulatory environment.
Once complete, the facility will take up to 300K gallons of water from the nearby Upper Ammonoosuc River. A facility built by the company will produce hydrogen, which will then be consumed in a modified diesel reciprocator to produce electricity. Startup power will come from a hydroelectric dam. Once operational, Q Hydrogen will have more information on the efficiency of their system.
"Our process does not involve a heat reaction to create the hydrogen.," says Whit. "Heat is an example of loss, and one of the reasons why something like electrolysis is so expensive to create hydrogen in the first place is because the amount of heat it takes to get the hydrogen out of the water."
Whit believes it took an outside thinker like his father to develop a hydrogen solution that was not simply an iterative take on existing technology. "It takes thinking completely outside the box to get you to a paradigm shift to something that’s revolutionary," he says.
Though they are focused on hydrogen for now, Whit says their IP covers both fluids and gases. This means a molecule like CO2 could likely be split by this technology.
While the New Hampshire facility will be burning hydrogen to make power, Whit believes their process could help propel the hydrogen fuel cell sector. He believes this could be a clean transition for all the "mom and pop" gas stations out there.
"People in this country like to go to fueling stations. I believe that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will become the dominant player," he says.
Unlike many second-generation family business owners, Whit started his career outside Q Hydrogen. He and other company employees got their start at much larger companies, which he believes have prepared them for growth.
"We’re small now but we realize what we’re doing could get very big very fast," he says. "You have to have the knowledge base to be able to grow quickly. And it takes those types of people to move the needle in that direction."
Useful Links: