In addition to biodiesel, InnovaTek has also used its technology to
produce hydrogen from glycerol (a byproduct of biodiesel production), and
the raw soybean oil that is used to manufacture the biodiesel fuel. The
use of glycerol as a source for hydrogen has the additional advantage of
producing a valuable commodity from a byproduct of biodiesel production.
This benefit contributes favorably to the economics of biodiesel as a fuel
that is competitive with petroleum diesel fuel.
InnovaTek successfully demonstrated the ability to generate hydrogen from
pure biodiesel (B100) produced at the Seattle Biodiesel production
facility. One of the advantages of InnovaTek's technology is the use of
micro- or millichannel geometries for the catalytic reactor and heat
exchangers. Microchannel reactors offer some distinct advantages over
conventional reactors (tubular or vessel), including inherent safety,
compact size and high conversion rates. The microchannel reformer achieved
a 100% conversion rate of the pure biodiesel (B100).
"The demonstration of the InnovaGen fuel processor with renewable liquid
fuels further establishes the flexibility and value of InnovaTek's
technology for sustainable power production," said Patricia Irving, CEO
and founder of InnovaTek. "We are committed to the development and
commercialization of innovative products that will reduce emissions and
offer viable alternatives to petroleum."
InnovaTek's InnovaGen fuel processor, which can be used for a broad range
of fuel choices, both liquid and gaseous, has been demonstrated to
efficiently produce hydrogen from diesel, jet fuel, biodiesel, vegetable
oil, glycerol, gasoline, propane, natural gas and methanol.
Seattle BioFuels claims to be the first company in the Pacific Northwest
to open and operate a commercial scale (>5 mgy) biodiesel refinery
certified by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). Using
proprietary technology, the company produces a diesel fuel alternative
made from vegetable oil.