Today’s steam generation market is continuously reshaped by rising fuel costs and new regulations requiring carbon footprint reductions. New regulations require steam generators to reduce their carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The two main methods that exist to reduce CO and CO2 emissions are designed to either capture and sequester the carbon in the fuel gas or remove carbon from the fuel prior to firing. Carbon capture from the fuel is becoming the more cost-effective method. Removal of the carbon prior to firing involves reforming natural gas — mainly methane (CH4) — and capturing the carbon atom while utilizing the hydrogen (H2) atoms as a fuel source. Capturing the carbon prior to combustion eliminates the need to outfit each boiler with costly equipment that is necessary to capture and sequester the carbon.
Fuel cost instability also factors into pushing end users to consider alternative fuel sources they may already have at their disposal, such as H2 left over from various reforming and refining processes. Instead of flaring or releasing this excess H2, it can be injected into the fuel gas stream to supplement the main fuel supply. Applying the proper expertise and experience, burning H2 in steam generation systems can greatly reduce operating fuel costs while also helping to meet new carbon emissions regulations.