Air Products, a global supplier of hydrogen, has received an order from Valero Energy to supply more than 200 million standard cubic ft. of hydrogen per day to Valero’s refineries located in Port Arthur, Texas and St. Charles, Louisiana.
Air Products’ Vice President of North America Tonnage Gases, Wilbur Mok commented that the company is already supplying hydrogen to Valero Energy through its two steam methane reformer hydrogen manufacturing plants in Port Arthur.
As part of the deal, Air Products would build a steam methane reformer hydrogen manufacturing plant in St. Charles that will remain on-stream during the mid-half of 2013. The plant would be linked to the company’s hydrogen pipeline supply network in Gulf Coast that distributes hydrogen to various petrochemical and refinery firms in the area.
The St. Charles hydrogen plant would be constructed via the worldwide hydrogen partnership between Technip and Air Products. The facility will be equipped with advanced technologies to reduce emissions and optimize energy efficacy. The improved SMR design aims maximum heat integration and minimum heat loss to the environment, resulting in minimum consumption of natural gas feedstock.
Apart from the Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline network, Air Products operates hydrogen pipeline networks across the globe, including Netherlands; Ontario and Alberta in Canada; and Southern California.