How Hydrogen Is Fueling the Clean Energy Transformation

insights from industryElaine, Shivani Rudradat, Tyler Noyes Technetics

In this interview, AZoM talks to a panel of experts at Technetics Group about hydrogen and the opportunities it presents in the context of clean energy transition.

Could you please provide an in-depth explanation of the ASME Turbo Expo?

Elaine Motyka:

Turbo Expo is an annual conference organized by ASME, the leading professional society of mechanical engineers. ASME hosts numerous conferences. As you can deduce from its name, this particular one focuses on turbomachinery. These include turbines that propel aircraft and land-based turbines that generate power for us.

They also encompass devices such as steam turbines, wind turbines, fans, blowers, and related technologies, including supercritical CO₂, emissions, and hydrogen energy, which are part of the green energy sector. It is an excellent platform for fostering cross-collaboration among academia, industry, like ourselves, and policymakers, the individuals responsible for crafting mandates and laws that bring beneficial innovations to life.

We must explore various methods to power all our electronics. However, you specifically mentioned policymakers. Has their role evolved since last year, and how significant is it in Turbo Expo?

Elaine Motyka:

Yes, from the keynote lectures, it appears to be an objective of the organizers to ensure an equal representation of academics, industry engineers like ourselves, and policymakers.

I believe that policymakers should have a more substantial presence. Hearing about the work engineers undertake is more impactful than relying on lobbyists. Witnessing engineers' passion for striving for global carbon neutrality by 2050 is truly remarkable.

Based on the consensus of all the engineers and technology experts at last year's 2022 conference, the primary hurdles are not technological but cultural and infrastructural. We need policymakers in attendance, as these are the most significant barriers. It is fantastic that Technetics is a part of this.

Image Credit: r.classen/Shutterstock.com

Can you tell us about some of the FAA ideas and the aviation concepts involving hydrogen and turbo technology?

Elaine Motyka:

FAA is not directly involved in advancing this technology. However, it has played a role in opening air corridors at higher altitudes. The need for a more efficient compressor becomes critical at these higher altitudes, with less air to compress. These engines are often referred to as "air-breathing engines." They cannot function, generate flames, or take flight without air.

This is particularly relevant for Technetics as a seal company. The turbulent flow is an area where our abradable seal material and brush seals can significantly impact. These components can enhance compressor efficiency, which will be essential at these elevated altitudes.

The reason for opening these air corridors is to alleviate the congestion we experience on the ground. When one airport encounters delays, even due to a computer issue, it can take days to resolve because these planes have limited routes; think of them as highways in the sky.

This development will immensely benefit consumers, the general public, and our company. This presents a significant opportunity for our company, particularly in the compressor sector.

This means more aircraft in the sky, more noise, and more activity overall. What are some trends or developments that caught your attention in this aspect of the industry?

Shivani Rudradat:

In recent years, many noise reduction regulations have emerged, primarily from Europe. Much of the emphasis I noticed before my involvement with ASME was on noise treatment to address this issue.

However, something I observed at ASME, which was relatively new to me then, is that several companies are researching how to mitigate noise at a component level. Instead of adding treatments, they strive to eliminate the noise from the system entirely.

Could you please provide an overview of FELTMETAL and how it can be used in real-world applications?

Tyler Noyes:

FELTMETAL™ gets its name from its appearance. It comprises numerous tiny metal fibers closely packed together, giving it a soft look. However, it is essential to note that it is not nearly as soft as it appears. If you want something genuinely soft, regular felt is a better choice because FELTMETAL™ is still made of metal.

We are currently exploring various applications for it. One is its acoustic properties, particularly its potential for acoustic absorption.

We are considering using it in the compressor stages to create abradable seals around the blade tips. This is essential for sealing around the outside of the compressor stages because tip losses are a perennial concern when dealing with any airfoil.

FELTMETAL™ is a fascinating material, and much research remains to be done. Collaborating with various experts at the 2023 Turbo Expo and leveraging our diverse backgrounds promises exciting progress in moving these ideas from the realm of research into real-world applications.

Where does hydrogen traditionally come from, and where do these new ideas and methods of capturing and creating it originate?

Elaine Motyka:

A significant source of hydrogen is methane (CH₄). This involves a process where the carbon portion is removed, leaving behind hydrogen. Methane can be derived from various chemical processing plants' natural gas, biomass, and byproducts.

In industrial areas, you might see towers with flames emerging from them, resulting from burning methane and waste gases. However, the goal is to shift from this practice and build infrastructure to capture and utilize the hydrogen, often called "blue hydrogen."

Another source is coal, the least efficient method of hydrogen production and results in a substantial amount of carbon residue. To address this, carbon capture technology needs significant improvement.

On the other hand, water electrolysis, or green hydrogen, is the most environmentally friendly approach. It does not produce carbon emissions. Electrolyzers for water electrolysis can be installed near power generation plants, directly supplying hydrogen to these facilities.

For instance, there is an interesting case where a gas turbine owner in the South used hydrogen alongside natural gas in his pipeline, and it worked wonderfully, with no turbine-related issues, even up to 48% hydrogen. His main problem was running out of hydrogen. From the trends I have observed, hydrogen production is urgently needed through various methods, but the long-term green electrolysis method is the most promising.

Can you tell us what Technetics is doing in the world of hydrogen that is truly fascinating and worth paying attention to?

Shivani Rudradat:

We are involved in an exciting project related to the FELTMETAL™ product line. We have been collaborating with several academic partners, and we realized that our materials, typically used in aerospace applications, can serve as a porous transport layer in electrolyzers.

As mentioned, this connects with the concept of green hydrogen, where we generate hydrogen molecules from water. It is a remarkable research and development project that Technetics is currently working on. In other words, Technetics is offering industry solutions for efficient hydrogen production and containment, all while focusing on environmentally friendly and noise-reducing methods.

About the Speakers

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Technetics Group.

For more information on this source, please visit Technetics Group.