Exergoeconomic Analysis for a Flexible Dry Reforming Power Plant with Carbon Capture for Improved Energy Efficiency

Abstract

Abstract Dry reforming of methane is an innovative alternative method for the production of hydrogen that uses CO2 for the reforming process, thus lowering the carbon emissions of the plant. With the rise of renewable energy sources (solar, wind), the difference between the power supply and demand within the grid increased heavily, making flexibility of power plants more important for costs and emissions reduction. This paper presents the exergoeconomic analysis performed on the dry reforming technology designed for flexible power and hydrogen co-generation with carbon capture. The examined power plants’ output is 450 MW net power with the possibility of hydrogen production of 200 MWth (based on lower heating value). The CO2 capture rate is 90 % (a part being used in the reforming process). The energy efficiency of the plant is 50 %, the exergy destruction rate is 370 MW and the specific capital cost of the plant is 1,295 M€/MW. The goal of this work is to offer an alternative to conventional steam reforming, improve the process of dry reforming by finding and improving the components of the system that contribute the most to the destruction of exergy and present a new flexible power plant that can produce both power and hydrogen. The evaluated design concepts were simulated using process flow modeling software and the mass & energy balances were used for the exergoeconomic analysis to improve the overall performance of the plant.