Techno-economic and environmental assessment of methanol steam reforming for H2 production at various scales

Abstract

According to global trend of transition to a hydrogen society, needs for alternative hydrogen (H2) production methods have been on the rise. Among them, methanol steam reforming (MSR) in a membrane reactor (MR) has received a great attention due to its improved H2 yield and compact design. In this study, 3 types of economic analysis – itemized cost estimation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty analysis – and integrative carbon footprint analysis (iCFA) were carried out to investigate economic and environmental feasibility. Unit H2 production costs of MSR in a packed-bed reactor (PBR) and an MR for various H2 production capacities of 30, 100, 300, and 700 m3 h−1 and CO2 emission rates for both a PBR and an MR in H2 production capacity of 30 m3 h−1 were estimated. Through itemized cost estimation, unit H2 production costs of a PBR and an MR were obtained and scenario analysis was carried out to find a minimum H2 production cost. Sensitivity analysis was employed to identify key economic factors. In addition, comprehensive uncertainty analysis reflecting unpredictable fluctuation of key economic factors of reactant, labor, and natural gas obtained from sensitivity analysis was also performed for a PBR and an MR by varying them both simultaneously and individually. Through iCFA, lowered CO2 emission rates were obtained showing environmental benefit of MSR in an MR.