Abstract: Described is a robotic apparatus (10) for investigating a confined area comprising: an articulated robot (20) for insertion into a confined area, the robotic apparatus further comprising a robot control system (30) for controlling the articulated robot. Further, the robot control system comprises a control unit (50), a robot driving means, a seal (70) for isolating the confined area from the external environment and at least one transmission member (80), wherein the control unit is configured to send control signals to the robot driving means, and the at least one transmission member extends from the robot driving means to connect to the articulated robot, the at least one transmission member extending through the seal.

Abstract: Ammonia cracking process in which cracked gas is purified in a PSA system are improved by converting residual ammonia in the first cracked gas into further hydrogen and nitrogen by feeding PSA tail gas, or a gas derived therefrom, to a secondary cracking reactor and further processing the second cracked gas.

Abstract: NOx impurities in a flue gas generated in an ammonia cracking process may be removed from the flue gas by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) using an aqueous ammonia solution produced by cooling compressed tail gas from a hydrogen PSA device purifying the cracked gas.

Abstract: Recovery of a renewable hydrogen product from an ammonia cracking process, in which the cracked gas is purified in a first PSA device and at least a portion of the first PSA tail gas is recycled as fuel to reduce the carbon intensity of the renewable hydrogen product.

Abstract: Reduction of the water content of ammonia used in an ammonia cracking process allows the use of water intolerant cracking catalysts. The water removal process can also be used to recover and recycle ammonia from the cracked gas.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked catalytically in an adiabatic reaction unit to produce partially cracked ammonia gas which is heated and fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to cause cracking of further ammonia and produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. At least some, preferably all, of the duty required to heat the partially cracked ammonia gas is provided by heat exchange with the cracked gas, enabling more efficient heat integration within the process.

Abstract: Processes for cracking ammonia are improved by using heat generated in a compression unit that is used to compress PSA off gas being recycled to a PSA unit to pre-heat liquid ammonia prior to vaporization and cracking. The heat is transferred using a heat transfer fluid such as an aqueous solution comprising from about 50 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a glycol, e.g., ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for cracking ammonia comprising providing an ammonia-containing feed gas at a temperature of over 600° C. and a pressure in a range from about 5 bar to about 50 bar; combusting a fuel with an oxidant gas in a furnace to heat reactor tubes to achieve a maximum inner wall temperature of over 700° C. and produce a flue gas, each reactor tube comprising a catalyst bed comprising a first row transition metal-based catalyst; and feeding the ammonia-containing feed gas to the reactor tubes to produce a cracked gas at a temperature of over 600° C. on exit from the reactor tubes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked in at least two adiabatic reactors in series with interstage heating in which the feed temperature to a first reactor is higher than the feed temperature to a further reactor to produce a partially cracked ammonia gas which is then fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. The use of the adiabatic reactors enables more efficient heat integration within the process and the higher temperature in the first reactor enables the use of a nickel-based catalyst in that reactor as an alternative solution to the potential problem of the presence of oil in the ammonia.

Abstract: A process for producing compressed hydrogen gas, said process comprising electrolysing water to produce hydrogen gas and compressing said hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system to produce compressed hydrogen gas. The multistage compression system comprises at least one centrifugal compression stage, and the hydrogen gas is fed to the centrifugal compression stage at a pre-determined feed temperature and pressure and having a pre-determined relative humidity. The process further comprises adding water and heat to the hydrogen gas upstream of the centrifugal compression stage, as required, to humidify the hydrogen gas to the pre-determined relative humidity.

Abstract: A process for producing compressed hydrogen gas including: electrolysing water to produce hydrogen gas, and compressing the hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system including: a centrifugal compression stage and a recycle system for recycling a portion of the hydrogen gas from a product end to a feed end of the centrifugal compression stage; wherein hydrogen gas feed is fed to the feed end at a pre-determined feed temperature and pressure and mole fraction of water; wherein a portion of the hydrogen gas is removed from the product end, reduced in pressure in the recycle system to the pre-determined feed pressure and is then recycled to form at least part of the hydrogen gas feed to the centrifugal compression stage; and further including cooling hydrogen gas comprising the reduced pressure hydrogen gas such that the water mole fraction in the hydrogen gas feed is at the pre-determined water mole fraction.

Abstract: Recovery of hydrogen from an ammonia cracking process in which the cracked gas is purified in a PSA device is improved by using a membrane separator on the PSA tail gas.

Abstract: A method for supplying hydrogen gas for consumption in at least one downstream process, the method comprising: electrolysing water to provide hydrogen gas; compressing the hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system to provide compressed hydrogen gas; and feeding at least a portion of the compressed hydrogen gas to the downstream process(es); wherein the multistage compression system comprises at least one centrifugal compression stage; wherein the hydrogen gas is dosed with nitrogen gas upstream of the centrifugal compression stage(s); and wherein the nitrogen gas is present in the compressed hydrogen gas when fed to the downstream process(es).

Abstract: A process for producing compressed hydrogen gas including: electrolysing water to produce hydrogen gas, and compressing the hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system including: a centrifugal compression stage and a recycle system for recycling a portion of the hydrogen gas from a product end to a feed end of the centrifugal compression stage; wherein hydrogen gas feed is fed to the feed end at a pre-determined feed temperature and pressure and mole fraction of water; wherein a portion of the hydrogen gas is removed from the product end, reduced in pressure in the recycle system to the pre-determined feed pressure and is then recycled to form at least part of the hydrogen gas feed to the centrifugal compression stage; and further including cooling hydrogen gas comprising the reduced pressure hydrogen gas such that the water mole fraction in the hydrogen gas feed is at the pre-determined water mole fraction.

Abstract: A method for supplying hydrogen gas for consumption in at least one downstream process, the method comprising: electrolysing water to provide hydrogen gas; compressing the hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system to provide compressed hydrogen gas; and feeding at least a portion of the compressed hydrogen gas to the downstream process(es); wherein the multistage compression system comprises at least one centrifugal compression stage; wherein the hydrogen gas is dosed with nitrogen gas upstream of the centrifugal compression stage(s); and wherein the nitrogen gas is present in the compressed hydrogen gas when fed to the downstream process(es).

Abstract: A process for producing compressed hydrogen gas, said process comprising electrolysing water to produce hydrogen gas and compressing said hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system to produce compressed hydrogen gas. The multistage compression system comprises at least one centrifugal compression stage, and the hydrogen gas is fed to the centrifugal compression stage at a pre-determined feed temperature and pressure and having a pre-determined relative humidity. The process further comprises adding water and heat to the hydrogen gas upstream of the centrifugal compression stage, as required, to humidify the hydrogen gas to the pre-determined relative humidity.

Abstract: A helium-containing stream is recovered from a natural gas feed using a membrane followed by multiple distillation steps. Refrigeration is provided by expanding a bottoms liquid with a higher nitrogen content than the feed, achieving a lower temperature in the process. The helium-enriched vapor is then purified and the helium-containing waste stream is recycled to maximize recovery and reduce the number of compressors needed. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.

Abstract: A helium-containing stream is recovered from a natural gas feed using a membrane followed by multiple distillation steps. Refrigeration is provided by expanding a bottoms liquid with a higher nitrogen content than the feed, achieving a lower temperature in the process. The helium-enriched vapor is then purified and the helium-containing waste stream is recycled to maximize recovery and reduce the number of compressors needed. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.

Abstract: A crude helium stream is recovered from a natural gas feed by distillation. Refrigeration from expanding a portion of the bottoms liquid is used to partially condense the helium-enriched overhead vapor and generate a crude helium vapor and a helium-containing liquid stream that is recycled to the distillation column to maximize helium recovery. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.