March 2025

The E-Consultant
 

Advancing Clean Energy: NELSON’s Lunch and Learn on Hydrogen with Air Products


At NELSON, we believe in continuous learning and professional growth. Our employee training program is designed to foster knowledge sharing and skill development through partnerships with industry professionals. One of our recent initiatives was a collaborative Lunch and Learn session focused on hydrogen for clean energy with Air Products, a world-leading industrial gases company focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets.


Hydrogen is currently used in hydrotreatment in refineries and hydrogenation in chemicals and ammonia production. Looking ahead, hydrogen will play a significant role in natural gas blending, fuel cells, and gas turbines, contributing to reduced CO2 emissions. Projects involving blue hydrogen (with carbon capture) and green hydrogen (no CO2 emissions) offer our clients the potential to achieve carbon neutrality or even negative emissions.


Expanding Hydrogen Infrastructure

Ana Romero from Air Products led the Lunch and Learn session, highlighting the critical role of hydrogen infrastructure in transitioning to cleaner energy. She discussed various hydrogen offerings and transportation methods, including:



  • Compressed Tube Trailers (BHY)
  • Liquid Bulk Hydrogen (LHY)
  • On-Site Production (PHG)
  • Pipelines for Low/High Pressure Supply Requirements

For users of liquid bulk high-pressure hydrogen, Air Products introduced a two-phase patented pump. This innovative pump offers a wide range of flow and pressure capabilities and can utilize both liquid hydrogen from cryogenic tanks and gas, reducing unnecessary venting.


Transporting and storing hydrogen presents unique challenges due to the small size of hydrogen molecules, which can penetrate certain metals like mild steel. This can lead to hydrogen embrittlement, weakening the material. To address this, appropriate internal coatings, alloyed steel, or composite materials are often required in industrial applications.


If you are interested in discussing hydrogen utilization further, please contact Richie Melancon at richie.melancon@wsnelson.com, Tom Wells at tom.wells@wsnelson.com, or Marcel Danos at marcel.danos@wsnelson.com.

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About NELSON
Waldemar S. Nelson and Company, a 300-person multi-discipline engineering and architecture firm, has provided professional services to public and private owners since 1945. With offices in New Orleans and Houston, our primary goal is to help our clients develop cost-effective, safe, efficient facilities through creative and innovative solutions. Visit our website to find out more about how we can help you on your next project.

Engineering is the foundation of civilization.
 
 
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Waldemar S. Nelson and Company
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Visit our website at www.wsnelson.com
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