Sorption-enhance Steam Methane Reforming for Combined Hydrogen Production and Carbon Capture
Today, the main commercially available hydrogen production processes are associated with a significant amount of co-generated CO2. As a result, conventional hydrogen processes such as steam methane reforming, are one of the key contributors to CO2 emissions and therefore, climate change. In order to reduce the associated carbon emissions during such processes and therefore, mitigate the impacts of climate change and global warming, it is necessary to capture this CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere. Hydrogen production via this process is referred to as "blue hydrogen".
Sorption-enhanced steam-methane reforming is a new concept in low-carbon hydrogen production, which benefits from an integrated reactor and carbon capture unit. It is, in fact, an intensified process, coupling conventional steam methane reforming and adsorption-based carbon capture processes. As a result, the new conceptual process would correspond to reduced costs due to a more compact/intensified process. However, it is highly important for this process to yield hydrogen and CO2 purities which meet their end application. For example, the purity of hydrogen is dictated by the downstream process in which hydrogen is utilised. Similarly, the required purity of the captured CO2 stream is linked to the transportation method (i.e. via pipelines or ships), as well as the storage considerations. Therefore, an effective sorption-enhanced process must be able to meet such requirements.
In this project, we aim to design, model and optimise a sorption-enhanced steam-methane reforming process for combined CO2 capture and hydrogen production via detailed process modelling techniques. The project will study the impact of various operating parameters such as temperature, pressure and steam/methane ratio, on the process efficiencies such as hydrogen and CO2 purities, process energy demand, and the capital and operating expenditures (CAPEX & OPEX), via detailed process modelling and optimisation. The project benefits from close collaboration with leading industrial players in this area including Costain and Fluor.
Publications
Masoudi Soltani, S., Lahiri, A., Bahzad, H., Clough, P., Gorbounov, M. and Yan, Y. (2021). Sorption-enhanced Steam Methane Reforming for Combined CO2 Capture and Hydrogen Production: A State-of-the-Art Review. Carbon Capture Science & Technology
Bui, M., Gazzani, M., Pozo, C., Puxty, G. D. and Masoudi Soltani, S. (2021). Editorial: The Role of Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies in a Net-Zero Carbon Future. Frontiers in Energy Research