Found Energy has used 1 kilogram of low-grade aluminum trash, such as foil, as a fuel source to generate 20 kW of continuous, hydrogen-based thermal power in an experimental reactor.
The company claims that after being treated with a unique catalyst, the scrap releases hydrogen particles that are submerged in water and can either be burned for thermal energy or stored in fuel cells.
Aluminum hydroxide is the byproduct that remains after the reaction, when the heat and hydrogen have dissipated. Primary smelters use aluminum hydroxide as an alumina chemical precursor to create pure aluminum metal.
The company’s first product is the reactor, which can generate electricity in the kilowatt range. A model that can generate electricity in the megawatt range will start to be tested in the third quarter.
The oil-based industries with the largest carbon footprints, such as aluminum smelters, long-haul haulage, and ocean-going freighters, are the target markets for Found Energy’s low-emission energy source.
The company anticipates that ammonia fertilizer companies, who traditionally employ hydrogen obtained through steam methane reforming, will investigate the novel technique as it offers an alternate method of delivering hydrogen while also having a higher volumetric energy density.
