Distributed hydrogen extraction system

Abstract

A hydrogen extraction system is provided. The extraction system can comprise a compressor for compressing a gas mixture comprising hydrogen and a desulfurization unit for receiving the compressed gas mixture. The system can also comprise a hydrogen-extraction device for receiving a reduced-sulfur gas mixture and a hydrogen storage device for receiving an extracted hydrogen gas. A method of extracting hydrogen from a gas mixture comprising natural gas and hydrogen, and a method of determining an energy price are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring a flow of hydrogen gas mixture, the system comprising:
 a meter for determining a mass flow rate of hydrogen gas;   a meter determining a mass flow rate of natural gas;   wherein the system is configured to multiply the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas by a factor for hydrogen gas;   wherein the system is configured to multiply the mass flow rate of natural gas by a factor for natural gas; and   wherein the system is configured to determine an energy price by adding i) the product of the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas and a factor for hydrogen gas and ii) the product of the mass flow rate of natural gas by a factor for natural gas.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to determine the mass flow rate of natural gas by subtracting the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas from a flow rate of a gas mixture comprising hydrogen gas and natural gas. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the factor for hydrogen gas comprises a market value factor for hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the factor for natural gas comprises a market value factor for natural gas. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the factor for hydrogen gas comprises a factor to account for the value added to a network by the return of hydrogen gas to the network and the factor for natural gas comprises a factor to account for the value depleted from a network by the extraction of hydrogen gas from the network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to supply natural gas to a natural gas unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to supply hydrogen gas to a fuel cell. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining an energy price, the method comprising:
 a) determining a mass flow rate of hydrogen gas;   b) determining a mass flow rate of natural gas;   c) multiplying the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas by a factor for hydrogen gas;   d) multiplying the mass flow rate of natural gas by a factor for natural gas; and   e) adding the values of step c) and step d).   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mass flow rate of natural gas is determined by subtracting the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas from a flow rate of a gas mixture comprising hydrogen gas and natural gas. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the factor for hydrogen gas comprises a market value factor for hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the factor for natural gas comprises a market value factor for natural gas. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the factor for hydrogen gas comprises a factor to account for the value added to a network by the return of hydrogen gas to the network and the factor for natural gas comprises a factor to account for the value depleted from a network by the extraction of hydrogen gas from the network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising supplying natural gas to a natural gas unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising supplying hydrogen gas to a fuel cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining a mass flow rate of hydrogen gas comprises measuring the mass flow rate of hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining a mass flow rate of natural gas comprises measuring the mass flow rate of natural gas.