Hydrogen production from steam gasification of polyethylene using a two-stage gasifier and active carbon

Yong-Seong Jeong, Ki-Bum Park and Joo-Sik Kim

Applied Energy, 2020, vol. 262, issue C, No S0306261920300076

Abstract: Steam gasification of polyethylene was conducted using a two-stage gasifier consisting of a fluidized bed gasifier and a tar-cracking reactor filled with active carbon. The main aim of the work was to produce H2-rich syngas and simultaneously reduce tar. The main reaction variable was the steam-to-fuel ratio. The possibility of gasification without using an electrostatic precipitator was also examined in the study. In addition, the effect of the type of distributor (hook-type and mesh-type distributor) located between the fluidized bed gasifier and tar-cracking reactor on coke formation was investigated. Finally, the possibility of in situ regeneration of active carbon with steam was explored. As a result, the syngas from the two-stage gasifier contained a maximum 66 vol% hydrogen and a minimum 0 mg/Nm3 tar. The syngas produced without using an electrostatic precipitator had similar quality to that obtained with an electrostatic precipitator, providing a positive indication for the implementation of the two-stage gasifier in commercial applications. Additionally, the mesh-type distributor was found to be excellent against coke formation. The in situ regeneration of active carbon with steam significantly recovered the textural properties of the original active carbon, yielding a surface area recovery rate of approximately 63%. A long-term gasification for 4 h with repetitive in situ regeneration of active carbon with steam produced a syngas having 55 vol% H2 on average and toluene as a tar component.

Keywords: Hydrogen; Tar; Two-stage gasification; Polyethylene; Active carbon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114495

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