Techno-economic assessment of a plant based on a three reactor chemical looping reforming system

Abstract

Reforming by using chemical looping concept is an innovative and recent technology which is used to convert the hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen (H2). The overall process produces separate streams of H2 and CO2. The present study conducts a techno-economic assessment of a three reactor chemical looping reforming plant. The cost data are used for the plant's location to be in the United Arab Emirates. The effects of key operating parameters on the technical performance of the plant are investigated. In addition, the thermodynamic data from the model are also used to perform an economic assessment for calculating the cost of H2 produced. The cost of H2 production with CO2 capture is 1.679 $/kg which is significantly low when compared to the case of steam methane reforming with CO2 capture (about 2.39 $/kg). Furthermore, the cost of H2 production in non-capture scenario is 1.404 $/kg which is comparable with the cost of H2 production from steam methane reforming technology.