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Solar steam reforming of natural gas for hydrogen production using molten salt heat carriers
Author(s) -
Giaconia Alberto,
de Falco Marcello,
Caputo Giampaolo,
Grena Roberto,
Tarquini Pietro,
Marrelli Luigi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.11510
Subject(s) - molten salt , steam reforming , hydrogen production , solar energy , methane reformer , natural gas , hydrogen , methane , energy carrier , process engineering , chemistry , waste management , nuclear engineering , hydrogen fuel , chemical engineering , engineering , electrical engineering , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
The utilization of concentrated solar energy as external heat source for methane steam reforming has been investigated. Molten salts at temperatures up to 550°C can be used as solar heat carrier and storage system, and hydrogen selective membranes can be used to drive reforming reaction at lower temperatures than conventional (<550°C), with hydrogen purification achieved thereby. The combination of new technologies such as membranes and membrane reactors, concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, and molten salt heat carriers, allows a partial decarbonation of the fossil fuel together with the possibility to carry solar energy in the current natural gas grid. Different plant configurations and operating conditions have been analyzed using a mathematical model and AspenPlus simulator. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008