(3f) Gasification Technology as Alternative Hydrogen Production System: Α Comparative Study of Fuels Available in Mexico

The technology of gasification transforms any fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, liquid or solid refinery residues or heavy oils into a synthesis gas, also called syngas, for subsequent utilisation as combustible gas. Also, biomass and wastes can be used as feed fuel.

In the past years, the Instituto de Investigaciones Electricas (IIE) in Mexico, technological research arm of the Energy sector in Mexico, has been working on economical and technical evaluation studies of the gasification technology as an alternative for power generation. However, in response of the national needs, a study of the gasification technology for hydrogen production by the shift-gas reaction process in a traditional refinery scheme has been performed.

The use the gasification technology as hydrogen production system is quite attractive in many ways since it offers several advantages, and allows synergies to other industries. One is a clean path of hydrogen source, due to sulphur and heavy metals can be removed from the syngas. Secondly, the CO2 obtained can be sequestered and stored in special places, avoiding the traditional contamination to the atmosphere. In addition, there is flexibility on the feedstock, giving as a result a wide fuel diversification to be used in the hydrogen production.

The aim of this study is to present an analysis of the hydrogen production by the gasification technology as a function of fuel compositions. The fuels used are bituminous coal and refinery residues such as the liquid vacuum distillation residues and the petroleum coke. It is important to notice that all the feedstock are Mexican fuels, in which the refinery residues have relative high sulphur and metals concentration and the bituminous coal is from MICARE mine, at the north of the country, with relative high ash concentration. Also, potential imported fuels are considered in the study as the Australian coal, and Colombian coal.

The results shown that the application of the gasification technology for hydrogen production is very attractive and offers several advantages over other hydrogen production systems.