Using Plasma Energy To Turn Waste Into Value

RedShift Energy receives award from National Science Foundation for Carbon-free Production of Hydrogen from Hydrogen Sulfide.
RedShift Energy is now
a U.S. Department of Energy Awardee.
Halliburton Labs selects
RedShift Energy for industrial scaling program.

About RedShift Energy

RedShift Energy, Inc. is developing an innovative plasma process that dissociates hydrogen sulfide (H2S) into hydrogen and sulfur, with no carbon emissions. Conventional Claus-based Sulfur Recovery Systems do not recover hydrogen.

Thermodynamically, H2S is the least expensive source of carbon-free hydrogen when paired with renewable electricity. This novel process employs patented modular and scalable systems that retain their economic advantage from upstream to downstream. Deploying this disruptive technology will economically process H2S, while reducing emissions of carbon dioxide from Steam Methane Reforming hydrogen production.  

Our technologies will help companies meet ESG goals for Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.

Team Redshift at World Petroleum Congress, December 6, 2021

Company

RedShift Energy, Inc., a privately held corporation, is developing an innovative plasma chemistry process that safely and effectively converts an unwanted byproduct of the oil industry, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) into two commercial products – hydrogen and sulfur, without carbon emissions. The company's main operations are at the Warminster, Pennsylvania research and development facility.

Arc plasma energy flow

Plasma Chemistry

Plasma is one of the four major states of matter. There is not a sharp boundary between gas and plasma: gas that contains positively and negatively charged particles, ions and electrons, and therefore is electrically conductive, is plasma.  When we control properties of gas with electro-magnetic fields, we work with plasma. Using electricity, it is possible to create plasma with very different properties: for example, hot plasma of electric arc used for welding and cold plasma in fluorescent lamps. Plasma can be used for control of chemical processes.

Various forms of renewable energy sources

Environment

Replacing a Claus-based Sulfur Recovery System (SRS) with RedShift technology, when paired with a renewable source of electricity, will yield zero-carbon hydrogen.

When deployed upstream, the technology helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the safe recovery of associated gases.

Hydrogen and Sulfur Recovery

H2S detection personal monitor and warning sign

Clean Hydrogen from H2S

Today, refineries consume 25% of the hydrogen produced worldwide, primarily to remove sulfur from oil products. The oil desulfurization process converts sulfur-containing substances and hydrogen to hydrogen sulfide. Then, hydrogen sulfide is partially oxidized in the Claus process-based sulfur recovery units to sulfur and water vapor.  RedShift technology enables the recovery of carbon-free hydrogen from H2S, that is thermodynamically the least expensive source of hydrogen.

Hydrogen stack at a refinery

Hydrogen Opportunity

RedShift technology is a proprietary method that builds on forty years of research and development. The systems are modular and scalable. It is economically viable from wellhead to refinery scale. A clear opportunity exists for the introduction of this disruptive technology that can economically process H2S. Recovery of carbon-free hydrogen from H2S will result in significant reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions during hydrogen production by steam reforming of hydrocarbons.

Collection of liquid sulfur after plasmatron

Hydrogen & Sulfur Recovery

The process uses a proprietary arc plasmatron to create a high-temperature zone that dissociates hydrogen sulfide and allows for the capture of hydrogen.  This zone is small, but the gas flow velocity is high, which makes it very compact in comparison with Claus units. Fine-tuned plasma and flow parameters make this process energy efficient and profitable.

Innovation

Arc plasma energy flow

Patented Plasmatron

RedShift technology uses a proprietary arc plasmatron to create a high-temperature zone that dissociates hydrogen sulfide and enables hydrogen recovery at atomospheric pressure. The technology is very compact in comparison to the Claus system in a sulfur recovery unit.

Electrode without degradation

Stable Operation

Stable long-term energy efficient operation is enabled by precisely arranged gaseous dynamics and plasmatron materials.

We identified materials that enable electric arc electrodes to operate for extended periods in H2S atmosphere.

Arc plasma energy flow

Special Flow Dynamics

We are the experts in the formation of electric discharges in vortex flows at atmospheric pressure. Our process enables a shift of the chemical equilibrium of hydrogen sulfide disassociation and an increase in process efficiency.

Refinery in Corpus Christi, TX

Downstream Impact

RedShift technology allows recovery and recycling of hydrogen at a cost less than US $1/kg.

This process produces carbon-free hydrogen.

The process has a modular design for maximum operational efficiency and a small footprint.

Well site in the field

Upstream Impact

High sulfur content prevents development of many reserves.  
Our technology allows for handling of hydrogen sulfide on-site and enables development of high sulfur content reserves.

Team RedShift at Halliburton Labs Technology Center in Houston, TX

Halliburton Labs Selected
RedShift Energy for Industrial Scaling Accelerator

RedShift Energy, Inc. is one of three companies selected by Halliburton Labs to participate in their clean energy accelerator over the next year, starting in June 2022. The RSE team has access to Halliburton's extensive global facilities and resources including engineering services, supply chain, and consulting to further scale and optimize RedShift's novel hydrogen production technology.

SEE HL PITCH DAY VIDEOSEE HL PRESS RELEASE
Presentation by Dr. Gutsol at Innovation Zone, World Petroleum Congress, December 6, 2021
Team Redshift at World Petroleum Congress, December 6, 2021
Presentation by Dr. Gutsol at Innovation Zone, World Petroleum Congress, December 6, 2021

23rd World Petroleum Congress

RedShift Energy, Inc. was selected as one of the finalists for the Conoco Phillips Innovation Zone at the 23rd World Petroleum Congress, held in Houston, Texas from December 5-9, 2021. Innovation was the theme of the Congress, with companies representing over 70 countries in attendance. The Congress is held in cities all over the world, once every three years. It is the first time the Congress was hosted in the United States in over thirty years.

Dr. Alexander Gutsol and Howard Nelson introduced the technology to the attendees at the Congress on Monday, December 6, 2021.

Plasma Chemistry

Plasma energy - 4th state of matter

Plasma is one of the four major states of matter, and was first described by chemist Irving Langmuir in the 1920s. Plasma can be artificially generated by heating or subjecting a neutral gas to a strong electromagnetic field to the point where an ionized gaseous substance becomes increasingly electrically conductive, and long-range electromagnetic fields can dominate the behavior of the matter.

Plasma and ionized gases have properties and display behaviors unlike those of the other states, and the transition between them is mostly a matter of nomenclature and subject to interpretation. Based on the surrounding environmental temperature and density, partially ionized or fully ionized forms of plasma may be produced. Neon signs and lightning are examples of partially ionized plasma.

The Earth's ionosphere is plasma, and the magnetosphere contains plasma in the Earth's surrounding space environment. The interior of the Sun is an example of fully ionized plasma, along with the solar corona and other stars. Positive charges in ions are achieved by stripping away electrons from atomic nuclei, where the total number of electrons removed is related to either increasing temperature or the local density of other ionized matter.

Ionization of gases can be accompanied by the dissociation of molecular bonds, though this process is distinctly different from chemical processes of ion interactions in liquids or the behavior of shared ions in metals. The response of plasma to electromagnetic fields is useful in many modern technological processes, such as ozone production or plasma etching.

Team RedShift