2024 AIChE Annual Meeting

(477g) Palladium Membrane Technology for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production

Authors

Khalaf, H., Saudi Aramco
Draze, M., Saudi Aramco
Alqarni, A., Saudi Aramco
Paglieri, S., TDA Research, Inc.
Harale, A., Saudi Aramco
Hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in the transition to a sustainable energy system. It can help in promoting energy security and decarbonizing different sectors, especially those that are hard to abate such as long-haul transport and heavy industry. However, the majority of H2 is currently produced through conventional processes, which are responsible for significant carbon emissions. Therefore, technologies for low-emission H2 production are needed to unlock H2 full potential as a sustainable energy carrier.

Herein, we present an overview of the palladium membrane technology and its development at Saudi Aramco’s Research and Development Center as a pre-combustion capture technology and promising route for low-carbon H2 production. In this technology, the reforming reactor is designed to house H2 perm-selective palladium-based membranes, thus facilitating simultaneous H2 production and separation in one unit. Enhanced conversions beyond the thermodynamic limitations are achieved with high H2 purity (>99%), all while operating at reduced temperatures of 500-600 ℃ compared to > 900 ℃ in the conventional reforming processes. Moreover, the produced CO2 stream creates a single emission point of concentrated and pressurized CO2, which can be captured more efficiently at reduced costs and energy penalties.