Hythane® was developed in the laboratory of a company called Hydrogen Consultants, Inc. (HCI). Lead developer, Frank Lynch founded HCI to focus on advancing technology for hydrogen engines and metal hydride storage projects. HCI quickly expanded and added Greg Egan and Roger Marmaro to the management team. Realizing the need to bring hydrogen to a larger fleet audience, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Marmaro worked closely together to create a blend of hydrogen and natural gas that would yield the greatest emission reduction benefits while remaining a cost-effective option. Thus, Hythane® was born.
Hythane® is a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen, usually 5-7 percent hydrogen by energy. Natural gas is generally about 90+% methane, along with small amounts of ethane, propane, higher hydrocarbons, and “inerts” like carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Hydrogen and methane are complimentary vehicle fuels in many ways. Methane has a relatively narrow flammability range that limits the fuel efficiency and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions improvements that are possible at lean air/fuel ratios. The addition of even a small amount of hydrogen, however, extends the lean flammability range significantly. Methane has a slow flame speed, especially in lean air/fuel mixtures, while hydrogen has a flame speed about eight times faster. Methane is a fairly stable molecule that can be difficult to ignite, but hydrogen has an ignition energy requirement about 25 times lower than methane. Finally, methane can be difficult to completely combust in the engine or catalyze in exhaust after treatment converters. In contrast, hydrogen is a powerful combustion stimulant for accelerating the methane combustion within an engine, and hydrogen is also a powerful reducing agent for efficient catalysis at lower exhaust temperatures.
Headquartered in Colorado, the Hythane Company, LLC, is working to bridge the gap between conventional fossil fuels and the clean future of a hydrogen economy. Vehicles that operate on Hythane®, a blend of 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas by volume, produce significantly lower emissions than those operating on diesel or natural gas. The company intends to deploy the proprietary Hythane® System, which completely integrates Hythane technology into existing natural gas fueling stations and vehicles, in cities throughout the world. Hythane® can be used in all forms of vehicles and is especially suited for commuter buses, school buses, refuse trucks, and delivery trucks.
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Hythane President and CEO Roger Marmaro in the National Odyssey Day coverage.
Click here to view our presentation titled “Eden takes over Hyradix, A leading US Hydrogen Technology Company”
Click here to view our presentation titled “EDE Reaches 5 Yr Hythane Marketing Agreement with Gujarat State Petroleum”
Click here to view our presentation titled “Hythane Project Update”
Click here to view the Hythane Civic as highlighted by the KABC Channel 7 News, Los Angeles
Click here Click Here to see the Hythane Company interview on the Channel 9 News, Denver
