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Intensified energetically enhanced steam methane reforming through the use of membrane reactors
Author(s) -
Pichardo Patricia A.,
Manousiouthakis Vasilios I.
Publication year - 2020
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.16827
Subject(s) - methane , steam reforming , hydrogen production , process engineering , exothermic reaction , methane reformer , renewable energy , hydrogen , waste management , work (physics) , environmental science , nuclear engineering , engineering , chemistry , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , physics , electrical engineering , organic chemistry
Abstract This work focuses on the implementation of membrane reactors (MRs) in the production of hydrogen through steam–methane reforming (SMR). A novel equilibrium MR model featuring Gibbs Free Energy Minimization is introduced and applied to the SMR‐MR process. In addition, the concept of “energetically enhanced steam methane reforming (EER),” which allows for the use of a hybrid (methane combustion/renewable energy) energy supply in the production of hydrogen, is intensified. The UNISIM software (Honeywell™) is used to create a range of intensified flowsheets depicting the proposed IEER‐MR process as well as two baseline flowsheets depicting “a standard SMR‐MR process” and “a fully exothermic EER process.” Heat integration studies are carried out on the developed flowsheets, and the baseline designs are compared to the IEER‐MR designs to identify energetic intensification.