Energy, environment, and economic analyses on a novel hydrogen production method by electrified steam methane reforming with renewable energy accommodation. (15th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Huchao; Liu, Yinhe; Bian, Hao; Shen, Mengfei; Lin, Xiaolong
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 258(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15
• Subjects: Electrified Steam methane reforming -- Renewable power accommodation -- Power to gas -- Hydrogen production -- Techno-economic analysis; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A novel hydrogen production process is proposed by electrified methane reforming. A novel and efficient method for renewable electricity accommodation is proposed. The electric efficiency of the process is 88.86%, rising by 11% than electrolysis. The excellent economy of the novel process is proved by the economic analysis. The process can be applied in the gas supply chain, H2 station, ammonia plant. Abstract: More and more attention has been paid to hydrogen due to its cleanity and high energy density. However, hydrogen production from conventional steam methane reforming has high CO2 emission and heat loss in the flue gas. Hydrogen from water electrolysis has the defects of high cost and low efficiency. Electrified steam methane reforming (E-SMR) process is proposed by integrating power to gas technology with steam methane reforming based on the principle of efficient electrothermal conversion and energy cascade utilization. Electrical equipment is used in the process to eliminate the above drawbacks and accommodate renewable electricity. The novel process is simulated by chemical equilibrium and mass-energy conservation methods and analyzed from energy, environment, and economy. The optimal performance of E-SMR processes is investigated by adjusting the steam carbon ratio and reforming temperature under appropriate pressure. The optimal thermal efficiency (97.27 %) is improved by 18 percentage points at least compared to current industrial steam methane reforming processes. The optimal electrical efficiency (88.68 %) is at least 11.48 percentage points higher than that of running commercial water electrolysis systems. The novel process achieves low carbon emission (even zero-emission with CCS) since the required reforming energy is electricity instead of combustion. The cost of the proposed process can be minimized to 2.47 $/kg H2 through economic analysis. This work may provide an efficient, low-carbon, and economical option for hydrogen production.