Steam reforming of methanol for ultra-pure H2 production in a membrane reactor: Techno-economic analysis

Abstract

Process simulation and design as well as economic analysis were carried out to evaluate technical and economic feasibility of steam reforming of methanol in a membrane reactor (MR) for ultra-pure H2 production. Using a commercial process simulator, Aspen HYSYS®, comparative studies were conducted to investigate the effect of operating conditions including the H2 permeance (1 × 10−5 - 6 × 10−5 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1), a H2O sweep gas flow rate (1–20 kmol h−1), and a reaction temperature (448–493 K) in a conventional packed-bed reactor (PBR) and the MR using a previously reported reaction kinetics. Improved performances such as methanol conversions and H2 yields were observed in the MR compared to the PBR and several design guidelines for the MR were obtained to develop H2 separation membranes with optimal H2 permeance and to select a suitable H2O sweep gas flow rate. In addition, economic analysis based on itemized cost estimations was conducted for a small-sized H2 fueling station by calculating a unit H2 production cost for both the PBR and the MR reflecting a current economic status in Korea. As a result, a cost saving of about 23% was obtained in the MR (7.24 $ kgH2−1) compared to the PBR (9.37 $ kgH2−1) confirming the benefit of employing the MR for ultra-pure H2 production.