Thermo-electrochemical production of compressed hydrogen from methane with near-zero energy loss

Harald Malerød-Fjeld, Daniel Clark, Irene Yuste-Tirados, Raquel Zanón, David Catalán-Martinez, Dustin Beeaff, Selene H. Morejudo, Per K. Vestre, Truls Norby, Reidar Haugsrud, José M. Serra () and Christian Kjølseth ()
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Harald Malerød-Fjeld: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Daniel Clark: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Irene Yuste-Tirados: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Raquel Zanón: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
David Catalán-Martinez: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Dustin Beeaff: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Selene H. Morejudo: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Per K. Vestre: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS
Truls Norby: University of Oslo
Reidar Haugsrud: University of Oslo
José M. Serra: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Christian Kjølseth: CoorsTek Membrane Sciences AS

Nature Energy, 2017, vol. 2, issue 12, 923-931

Abstract: Abstract Conventional production of hydrogen requires large industrial plants to minimize energy losses and capital costs associated with steam reforming, water–gas shift, product separation and compression. Here we present a protonic membrane reformer (PMR) that produces high-purity hydrogen from steam methane reforming in a single-stage process with near-zero energy loss. We use a BaZrO3-based proton-conducting electrolyte deposited as a dense film on a porous Ni composite electrode with dual function as a reforming catalyst. At 800 °C, we achieve full methane conversion by removing 99% of the formed hydrogen, which is simultaneously compressed electrochemically up to 50 bar. A thermally balanced operation regime is achieved by coupling several thermo-chemical processes. Modelling of a small-scale (10 kg H2 day−1) hydrogen plant reveals an overall energy efficiency of >87%. The results suggest that future declining electricity prices could make PMRs a competitive alternative for industrial-scale hydrogen plants integrating CO2 capture.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-017-0029-4

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