BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Berlin-based tech company Graforce has introduced a unique technology: Plasmalysis saves resources in its highly efficient generation of hydrogen from industrial waste water. Mixing in biogas produces hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) – a cost-effective, environmentally friendly fuel for vehicles that also generates electricity and heat. The technology not only converts wastewater pollutants into valuable energy, but also reduces emissions (CO2, CO, HC) by 30 to 60 percent. Nitrogen oxide emissions are also reduced by up to 60 percent. Graforce’s partners include carmaker Audi and Berliner Wasserbetriebe.
“The technology we’ve developed is capable of cleaning wastewater and producing a low-cost, low-emission fuel from it,” says Graforce founder Dr. Jens Hanke at today’s launch of a demonstration plant in Berlin. “This lets us contribute to solving two pressing problems at once: air pollution and wastewater treatment.”
Cost-effective fuel with lower emissions
Graforce produces
hydrogen using the plasmalysis process in its demonstration plant in
Berlin. The process uses electricity to split wastewater obtained from
biogas, sewage treatment and industrial plants into oxygen and hydrogen.
Mixing hydrogen with biogas produces HCNG, which can be used as fuel in
natural gas vehicles and in block heating and gas power plants. Only
purified water and oxygen remain as waste products. Hydrogen production
using plasmalysis is 50-60% cheaper than with conventional processes.
Audi tests wastewater use of methane production with e-fuels
German
carmaker Audi has also been committed its reliance for many years to
alternative, synthetic fuels. One of the biggest challenges to e-fuel
production is the wastewater produced by biogas plants. It requires very
expensive cleaning or disposal. Integrating plasmalysis technology into
Audi’s e-fuel plants repurposes the wastewater into hydrogen production
while purifying it at the same time. This enables Audi’s systems to be
used more efficiently. “Graforce’s plasmalysis is an important
contribution to low-emission fuel production while boosting the economy
and efficiency of biogas and power-to-gas plants,” explains Dr. Hermann
Pengg, Head of Project Management for Renewable Fuels at Audi and CEO of
Audi Industriegas GmbH.
More information: www.graforce.com
