(553d) Thermodynamic Simulations, Experiments and Techno-Economic Analysis of Iron-Based Chemical Looping Systems for H2 Production

The iron-based moving bed based chemical looping technology developed at the Ohio State University (OSU) is a promising candidate to yield cost benefits in natural gas utilization for a carbon-constrained scenario. OSU has developed three commercially relevant, distinct approaches for high efficiency H2 production from natural gas^1,2,3. The first approach focuses on a three-reactor scheme that produces CO2 and H2 in separate reactors, providing process intensification benefits¹. The second approach utilizes a membrane based separation scheme to surpass the thermodynamic limits associated with the H2 production system in the first approach². The third approach retrofits the methane to syngas based co-current reaction system in a steam methane reformer and considers co-feed of steam and CO2 for high efficiency H2 production³. This presentation will initially examine the thermodynamic limits using Gibbs Free Energy minimization the three approaches. The thermodynamic performance will be further quantified by a cold-gas efficiency and an energy efficiency comparison between the three approaches and a baseline Steam Methane Reforming case. Relevant experiments that include high-pressure kinetic data and sub-pilot scale experimental demonstration will be used as an input for a base techno-economic analysis model for the three approaches. Sensitivity studies for each approach that identify the critical parameters to be de-risked for being competitive or better than steam methane reforming plants will be presented.

References

1. Kathe, M. V., Empfield, A., Na, J., Blair, E., & Fan, L. S. (2016). Hydrogen production from natural gas using an iron-based chemical looping technology: thermodynamic simulations and process system analysis. Applied Energy, 165, 183-201.
2. Nadgouda, S. G., Kathe, M. V., & Fan, L. S. (2017). Cold gas efficiency enhancement in a chemical looping combustion system using staged H 2 separation approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42(8), 4751-4763.
3. Kathe, M., Empfield, A., Sandvik, P., Fryer, C., Zhang, Y., Blair, E., & Fan, L. S. (2017). Utilization of CO 2 as a partial substitute for methane feedstock in chemical looping methane–steam redox processes for syngas production. Energy & Environmental Science.