Progress in Modeling of Silica-Based Membranes and Membrane Reactors for Hydrogen Production and Purification

Kamran Ghasemzadeh,Adolfo Iulianelli,Angelo Basile

doi:10.3390/chemengineering3010002

Kamran Ghasemzadeh, Adolfo Iulianelli + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering3010002

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Abstract

Hydrogen is seen as the new energy carrier for sustainable energy systems of the future. Meanwhile, proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks are considered the most promising alternative to the internal combustion engines for a number of transportation applications. Nevertheless, PEMFCs need high-grade hydrogen, which is difficultly stored and transported. To solve these issues, generating hydrogen using membrane reactor (MR) systems has gained great attention. In recent years, the role of silica membranes and MRs for hydrogen production and separation attracted particular interest, and a consistent literature is addressed in this field. Although most of the scientific publications focus on silica MRs from an experimental point of view, this review describes the progress done in the last two decades in terms of the theoretical approach to simulate silica MR performances in the field of hydrogen generation. Furthermore, future trends and current challenges about silica membrane and MR applications are also discussed.

Highlights

One of the biggest challenges for humanity is to find practical solutions to the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change
It is widely accepted that carbon capture and storage (CCS), large exploitation of renewable sources, and alternative processes may represent the most viable solutions to global warming [3]
membrane reactor (MR) can be suggested as technically, environmentally, and economically attractive routes, silica MRs can be suggesteda as viable alternative alternative for over the the the development of low- of a viable forhydrogen hydrogengeneration generation over

Summary

Introduction

One of the biggest challenges for humanity is to find practical solutions to the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change. CO2 represents one of the main causes of global warming, and its concentration increase in the atmosphere mainly depends on human activities, as a consequence of the large use of fossil fuels. In this regard, CO2 capture and sequestration attracted strong interest [1,2]. It is widely accepted that carbon capture and storage (CCS), large exploitation of renewable sources, and alternative processes may represent the most viable solutions to global warming [3]. These devices are electrochemical MRs combining hydrogen (as a fuel) and oxygen (from air) to produce electrical power in an efficient way, exhausting water vapour [4,5,6]

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