Process design of a hydrogen production plant from natural gas with CO2 capture based on a novel Ca/Cu chemical loop

I. Martínez, M.C. Romano, J.R. Fernández, P. Chiesa, R. Murillo and J.C. Abanades

Applied Energy, 2014, vol. 114, issue C, 192-208

Abstract: A detailed and comprehensive design of a H2 production plant based on a novel Ca/Cu chemical looping process is presented in this work. This H2 production process is based on the sorption-enhanced reforming concept using natural gas together with a CaO/CaCO3 chemical loop. A second Cu/CuO loop is incorporated to supply energy for the calcination of the CaCO3 via the reduction of CuO with a fuel gas. A comprehensive energy integration description of the different gas streams available in the plant is provided to allow a thermodynamic assessment of the process and to highlight its advantages and drawbacks. Hydrogen equivalent efficiencies of up to 77% are feasible with this novel Ca/Cu looping process, using an active reforming catalyst based on Pt, high oxidation temperatures and moderate gas velocities in the fixed bed system, which are around 6% points above the efficiency of a reference H2 production plant based on conventional steam reforming including CO2 capture with MDEA. Non-converted carbon compounds in the reforming stage are removed as CO2 in the calcination stage of the Ca/Cu looping process, which will be compressed and sent for storage. Carbon capture efficiencies of around 94% can be obtained with this Ca/Cu looping process, which are significantly higher than those obtained in the reference plant that uses MDEA absorption (around 85%). Additional advantages, such as its compact design and the use of cheaper materials compared to other commercial processes for H2 production with CO2 capture, confirm the potential of the Ca/Cu looping process as a pre-combustion CO2 capture technology for H2 production.

Keywords: Hydrogen; CO2 pre-combustion capture; Sorption enhanced reforming; Chemical looping; Thermal integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:114:y:2014:i:c:p:192-208

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.09.026

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