Houston Supports the Hydrogen Industry

Hydrogen Hubs

The city of Houston has an extensive hydrogen network that supports its petrochemical industry, and has received the government’s designation as a hydrogen hub. As such, the city is attracting companies from around the world that are participating in the emerging hydrogen industry. 

Houston Plating & Coatings is working with companies employing electrolyser technology to produce hydrogen that will be utilized as a clean fuel to generate electricity. The industry believes that widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel will reduce CO2 emissions in energy-intensive sectors, including industrial and chemical processes and heavy-duty transportation.

Green hydrogen is typically produced through a process of electrolysis which is powered by alternative energies such as wind or solar. Electrolysis involves using an electrical current to break down the water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen.

Embrittlement

Commercial production of hydrogen using electrolysers requires large scale equipment that is susceptible to embrittlement of carbon steel from extended contact with hydrogen molecules.

Research and use in existing manufacturing plants concludes that electroless nickel plating not only protects carbon steel from corrosion, but also mitigates the effects of hydrogen embrittlement. Companies manufacturing electrolyser based equipment are turning to HP&C for its 35 years of electroless nickel plating experience, and its reputation for the highest quality plating to complete their production supply chain. 

In addition to electrolyser components, there are many other types of equipment made of carbon steel that are used in the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen that can benefit from the protection afforded by electroless nickel plating to mitigate hydrogen embrittlement.