Abstract
This study was proposed to develop a new method for hydrogen production in significant amounts. It consisted in using sulfur dioxide (SO2), and discharged from the sulfuric acid (H2SO4) production unit. This process could be considered as an alternative to many classical processes for air quality treatment resulting in as afer environment. Furthermore, it was an innovative method for hydrogen production. In fact, SO2 was fed into a PEM electrolyzer stack. The dissolved SO2 was oxidized at the anode which led to the production of sulfuric acid; whereas, hydrogen (H2) was produced at the cathode. This new method was able to treat 3.7 t/day of SO22 in order to produce 0.116 t/day of hydrogen and recover 5.6 t/day of 35 wt.% H2SO4. Results showed that the studied procedure was more economical in terms of energy consumption than the Westinghouse hybrid process. Hence, 67% of the energy needed for the decomposition step was reduced by our proposed process. After the presentation of the principles of the new process design, each part of the process was sized. The calculations showed that the number of electrolyzers could be calculated using the same formula used for the number of electrolyzers for water electrolysis or flux cell.
Highlights
Sulfur dioxide is one of the most important pollutants of the atmosphere
The objective of the present work is to introduce a new method for the treatment of sulfur dioxide released from effluents of the sulfuric acid production units and the production of a mass quantity of hydrogen
Using the Regenerated Sulfur Dioxide. The aim of this investigation was to integrate the electrolysis phenomenon after manufacturing the sulfuric acid in order to produce hydrogen in a massive quantity, to recover an amount of the produced sulfuric acid and to eliminate the SO2 emission discharged from the chimney into the atmosphere. In this novel method the reactions of sulfuric acid decomposition performed at high temperature were eliminated since we used the SO2 previously removed from the sulfuric acid production unit
Summary
It is clear that about 90% of the generated SO2 comes from industrial plants It has many negative effects on human health. The objective of the present work is to introduce a new method for the treatment of sulfur dioxide released from effluents of the sulfuric acid production units and the production of a mass quantity of hydrogen. This latter is a non-toxic gas whose burning behavior is highly energy producing. This work presents a new process with two main goals This novel method is very promising in energy and ecological terms given that hydrogen is the main factor that will promote a new air clean development as well as renewable and sustainable energy
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