(587c) Exploring the Potential of Chemical Looping Systems to Provide Alternative H2 Production Systems Solutions Using Process Simulations and Techno-Economic Analysis

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 four 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. A fourth approach focuses on modifying the first three reactor approach and producing syngas from the reducer in addition to the Hydrogen from the oxidizer. This presentation will initially examine, how the application of these four chemical looping systems can lead to process intensification and integration opportunities. 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 with 90% Carbon capture. 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 four approaches. The integrated process and techno-economic analysis conducted with guidance from industrial partners useful and surprising insights into how chemical looping Hydrogen production approaches provide solutions under different adoption and carbon-capture scenarios.

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 CO₂ as a partial substitute for methane feedstock in chemical looping methane–steam redox processes for syngas production. Energy & Environmental Science.