Karachi Startup Builds Hydrogen Generator for Heat
A Karachi startup has built a hydrogen generator that makes fuel gas from water, offering factories and small businesses an alternative to costly LPG and natural gas.
The system, developed by PakHydro, uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then used at once as fuel, producing flame and heat for industrial, commercial and domestic use.
The Express Tribune reported that the prototype can produce one kilogramme of hydrogen in about six to eight minutes, using eight to 10 litres of water. The team says electricity use and production costs depend on the size of the unit and how it is run.
Who built it
The project is led by Muhammad Ayan, an electrical engineering student at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology and the founder and chief executive of PakHydro.
The team also includes Dr Usman Alauddin, co-founder and chief technology officer, who teaches mechanical engineering at NED University, and Amir Ali, co-founder and chief operating officer, who teaches electrical engineering at Sir Syed University.
Ayan said the team ran several experiments and tried different designs before settling on the current prototype. Early work focused on cell technologies, followed by steady research and development. All of the system’s basic parts were made or sourced locally, he said.
How the hydrogen generator works
The system runs on a “gas on demand” principle. It makes only the amount of hydrogen needed at a given time, which cuts the need to store large amounts of fuel gas.
The team says the generator can also run on renewable energy if its power comes from solar panels. That would cut running costs further, though the team has not published figures for what a unit costs to run.
Where it could be used
Small factories, metal workshops, welding units, textile mills, bakeries and traditional ovens all need a steady supply of heat. Rising prices of LPG, natural gas and other fuels have pushed up their costs, and the PakHydro team believes its hydrogen torch system could give them a locally made alternative.
LPG prices have risen sharply in Pakistan, and the state has moved control of LPG pricing to PSO and SSGCL. The government has also promised winter gas for three daily meals, a sign of how tight household and business gas supply has become. Gas supply in winter is already rationed in parts of the country, and SNGPL has set winter gas timings for Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The team plans to move beyond industrial torches and look at home and commercial appliances, including cooking stoves and heating systems. Smaller units for remote and mountainous areas are also being explored.
The market claim
Dr Alauddin said bringing the technology to market could create a new domestic industry covering the making, installation, maintenance and servicing of hydrogen torch systems. By his preliminary estimates, the market could reach Rs40 billion to Rs50 billion and create 8,000 to 10,000 jobs.
Those are the team’s own estimates, and they are preliminary. The prototype is still at an early stage, and no independent test of its output or running costs has been reported. What the team has shown is a working prototype built from local parts, and a plan to take it further.
Frequently asked questions
What does the PakHydro hydrogen generator do?
It uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, then burns the hydrogen to produce flame and heat.
How much hydrogen can it produce?
The team says the prototype can make one kilogramme of hydrogen in about six to eight minutes, using eight to 10 litres of water.
Who is behind PakHydro?
Muhammad Ayan, an electrical engineering student at Sir Syed University, leads the team with Dr Usman Alauddin of NED University and Amir Ali of Sir Syed University.
What is it for?
Industrial and commercial heat: metal workshops, welding, textiles, bakeries and ovens. Home appliances such as cooking stoves and heaters are also planned.
How big is the market?
The team’s preliminary estimate puts it at Rs40 billion to Rs50 billion, with 8,000 to 10,000 possible jobs. The figures are the team’s own and have not been independently verified.
