Systems and methods for local generation and/or consumption of hydrogen gas

A pyrolysis reactor for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, the pyrolysis reactor comprising:

• an input couplable to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon;
• a reaction chamber coupled to the input, the reaction chamber having one or more flow channels positioned to provide an input heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output flow that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates;
• and
• an output thermally coupled to the input to transfer at least a portion of heat in the output flow to the reaction material in the input.

A method for generating hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an input of a pyrolysis reactor, a fuel gas comprising a hydrocarbon;
• preheating, in the input, the fuel gas using residual heat in an output flow from the pyrolysis reactor;
• heating, within one or more flow channels of the pyrolysis reactor, the fuel gas to a reaction temperature, wherein, at the reaction temperature, at least a portion of the hydrocarbon in the fuel gas converts into hydrogen gas and carbon particulates;
• and
• separating the hydrogen gas and carbon particulates.