Unmixed reaction technology for hydrogen production
A new method for cheap and efficient hydrogen production.
Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) is a complex process to produce H2. It needs a large equipment footprint to accommodate the many stages.
Unmet Need
The unmet need is a method that:
- reduces the number of stages
- reduces equipment footprint
- reduces cost of production
Currently the process has six stages:
- Steam Methane Reforming
- High-temperature Water Gas Shift
- Low-temperature Water Gas Shift
- Condensate removal
- Pressure Swing Adsorption (CO2 Removal)
- Methanation
The Technology
We have developed an unmixed reaction technology that uses one reactor unit. This removes the need for separate equipment for stages 2 - 6 of the SMR process.
The technology uses chemical looping. This overcomes equilibrium limitations in the water gas shift (WGS) reaction.
Applications
- Hydrogen production
- the process also has more general utility in atom transfer reactions
Advantages
- significant plant footprint reduction
- significant CAPEX reduction
- high syngas conversion (>90%) to H2 and CO2
- pure H2 and CO2 product streams
- scalable process
- current research programs to incorporate methane reforming
Contact
Tim Blackburn: Tim.Blackburn@newcastle.ac.uk