The HNAT-Evall®
A New Instrument for Characterizing Hydrogen Generation from Rocks
For decades, Vinci-Technologies has accumulated extensive expertise in rock characterization, particularly in the analysis of geochemical source rocks using the Rock-Eval® device, which has now become the globally recognized reference tool in petroleum geochemistry. Leveraging its instrumental knowledge and a commitment to pioneering new energy technologies, Vinci Technologies' teams are currently engaged in the development of a groundbreaking instrument capable of measuring the hydrogen generation potential from hydrogen-source rocks, whether they are rich in iron or organic matter. This research and development effort is driven by the growing demand in the emerging natural hydrogen market. The Hnat-Eval device, once realized, will significantly enhance our understanding of the processes involved in hydrogen production from rocks.
The use of the Hnat-Eval instrument depends on the type of rock being analyzed. First there is organic matter-rich samples. When analyzing samples rich in organic matter, dry nitrogen is employed as the carrier gas during pyrolysis. This choice of carrier gas is specifically tailored to facilitate the pyrolytic decomposition of organic compounds within the rock. Then comes iron-rich samples. In contrast, when characterizing iron-rich samples, wet nitrogen is used as the carrier gas. This carrier gas enables an oxido-reduction reaction between the water content within the carrier gas and the iron constituents present within the rock sample. This reaction is fundamental to understanding the hydrogen generation potential of iron-rich rocks.
The development of the Hnat-Eval instrument represents a crucial step towards advancing our knowledge of hydrogen generation from rocks, opening up exciting possibilities for the utilization of natural hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source in the future.