Steam Conversion Of Methane Research Articles

Comparison of Various Hydrogen Production Technologies from Natural Gas

The article provides an overview of the present condition and immediate future potential in the realm of hydrogen energy technologies. The paper delves into the most renowned approaches for generating hydrogen from natural gas: a) Steam-Methane Reforming (SMR); b) Partial Oxidation (POX); and c) Autothermal Reforming (ATR). Nevertheless, employing these technologies on an industrial scale requires substantial R&D efforts, often on the scale of experimental ventures. The article also examines the global energy landscape, energy sources, the historical discovery of hydrogen, and the various production methods. It addresses the intricacies associated with hydrogen production technologies, with a focal point on the technology of extracting hydrogen from natural gas. Through a comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of each method and, as explicated in the concluding section of the study, several significant insights have been derived. Among the three technologies, SMR, the steam conversion process, boasts the highest hydrogen production rate. Catalytic partial oxidation of methane exhibits the swiftest reaction rate; however, it necessitates the use of pure oxygen, which poses safety concerns. The process of methane auto-thermal reforming requires no external heat and is characterized by minimal energy consumption. Steam reforming of methane emerges as an ecologically sound and scientifically promising avenue, offering high effectiveness. Nevertheless, its deployment on an industrial scale remains to be fully refined. Developing cost-effective catalysts and continuous reactor systems for methane steam conversion technology is essential to rendering it economically viable. In conclusion, there is substantial potential for advancements at hydrogen energy technologies, particularly through refining and integrating these different production methods.

Economic aspects of using the technologies for carbon dioxide capture and storage in hydrogen production projects

Subject. The article addresses one of the most promising alternatives to the development of low-carbon hydrogen production based on renewable energy sources by water electrolysis, i.e. traditional steam conversion of methane and coal gasification, but with the use of CO2 capture and storage technologies (CCS). Objectives. The aim is to review CCS technologies projects, analyze commercial prospects for their industrial application in the production of low-carbon hydrogen in Russia and internationally. Methods. The study draws on methods of literature review, content analysis of regulatory documentation, descriptive statistics, and case study. Analytical reviews of the International Energy Agency and the CCUS project database of the Global CCS Institute served as the information base of the research. Results. Commercial projects for capture and storage of hydrogen at various stages of development are implemented in 31 countries. Prospects for CCS technologies development in Russia are assessed quite highly in the international expert community. According to the CCS Readiness Index calculated under the methodology of the Global CCS Institute, recently, Russia is among the countries with the highest index figures, although it is inferior to the most BRICS partners. Conclusions. Widespread adoption of CCS technologies can significantly affect the future development of the global energy market and the share of Russia in it. Despite the growing share of renewable energy in the global energy balance and in the production of innovative energy products, the prospects for complete displacement of hydrocarbon fuels from the market currently seem unattainable. Therefore, the decarbonization of the global economy is impossible without CCS technologies development in the coming decades.

Hydrogen Technologies: A Critical Review and Feasibility Study

Nowadays, one of the most important areas in refining the energy sector in the developed countries is the transition to environmentally friendly technologies, and hydrogen energy production is the most promising of them. In this rapidly advancing area, significant progress in creating new technologies for hydrogen fuel generation, transportation, storage, and consumption has been recently observed, while a fast-growing number of research papers and implemented commercial projects related to hydrogen makes it necessary to give their general review. In particular, the combination of the latest achievements in this area is of particular interest with a view to analyzing the possibility of creating hydrogen fuel supply chains. This paper presents an analytical review of existing methods of hydrogen production, storage, and transportation, including their key economic and energy-related characteristics, and proposes an approach to the creation, analysis, and optimization of hydrogen supply chains. A mathematical model has been developed to determine the cost of hydrogen, taking into account the supply chain, including production, transport and storage. Based on the results of modeling in the given scenario conditions for 2030, 2040 and 2050, promising hydrogen supply chains have been established. Under the various scenario conditions, hydrogen production by 2050 is most preferable by the method of steam conversion of methane with a cost of 8.85 USD/kg H2. However, due to the environmental effect, electrolysis also remains a promising technology with a cost of hydrogen produced of 17.84 USD/kg.

THE USE OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE NUCLEAR REACTORS IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

The possibility of using high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR) for hydrogen production as an alternative to organic fossil fuel is considered. An overview of modern technologies of hydrogen production and its advantages as an energy carrier was conducted. The structure of world production and consumption of hydrogen is given. The exceptional properties of hydrogen as an energy carrier and component of various technological processes reveal the prospect of its application in various fields of energy, transport and industry. If previously the main advantages of hydrogen were considered to be its energy intensity, ability to store and distribute, now and for the future the key factor is itsenvironmental cleanliness and the ability to decarbonize transport, chemical, petrochemical, metallurgical industries and the utility sector. Currently, the majority of hydrogen and hydrogen-containing products are produced using steam conversion of natural gas. At the same time, 40...50% of natural gas is spent on the energy supply of the conversion process. In order to save natural gas and reduce the burden on the environment, methane steam conversion schemes with heat input from a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor have been developed. For conversion, a temperature level of 1000...1200 K is required. It is this temperature level that HTGR can provide. The proposed scheme of a multi-purpose nuclear power plant (MNPP) with a HTGR for the production of hydrogen during the steam conversion of natural gas and electricity generation and the main parameters of an MNPP with a HTGR with a thermal capacity of 3000 MW are calculated. A decrease in the consumption of natural gas was determined, comparable to the traditional technologies.

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES OF HYDROGEN GENERATION AND ACCUMULATION. ANALYTIC OVERVIEW OF THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

The article discusses the competitiveness of alternative fuels and technologies in the rapidly growing segment of passenger vehicles and aviation, which globally consumes more than 70% of the fuel spent on passenger transportation and about 45% in total on transport. The emergence of new technologies in personal vehicles (electric vehicles, hydrogen cars with fuel cell, biofuels, natural gas, etc.) makes us look at the prospects for the development of this segment in a new way. On the basis of this approach, an assessment of the methods of hydrogen production was carried out. Hydrogen production by steam conversion of methane, water electrolysis and biochemical production methods were compared in this article.
 Hydrogen is not a source of energy, but it is a mean of converting other energy sources into chemical energy in the form of accumulative pure hydrogen, which can be used subsequently during its oxigenation. In fact, a tank or other hydrogen storage device is technically similar to a battery or gas tank, and therefore it is necessary to compare not only the efficiency, but also other parameters. Hydrogen needs to be produced and converted to produce final energy, and both require energy.
 The advantages of hydrogen as a universal energy carrier are determined by environmental purity, flexibility and efficiency of energy conversion processes with its participation. Technologies of large-scale hydrogen production are quite well mastered and have an almost unlimited raw material base.
 The importance of hydrogen production technologies is determined by the high calority of hydrogen combustion and the possibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, since ordinary water is the combustion product.
 The article provides a comparative analysis of methods of hydrogen storage in liquid and gaseous states, carbon structures and hydride of metals

Investigation of the Zinc-Copper Catalyst NIAP-06-06 for Steam Conversion of Carbon Monoxide in the Synthesis of Methanol

The possibility to use the zinc-copper catalyst NIAP-06-06 for steam conversion of CO in the synthesis of methanol was explored. The catalyst was characterized by means of TPR H2, XRD and SEM methods and tested in the methanol synthesis in flow and circulation modes at a pressure of 5.0 MPa and gas hourly space velocity of 3000 h–1 over a temperature range of 220–260 °С. The catalyst was shown to be highly active and selective toward the methanol synthesis from a gas with the H2 /СО ratio 3.9, which is obtained by steam conversion of methane. The use of tubular catalytic reactors connected in series in the flow-circulation mode makes it possible to convert more than 70 % of CO and obtain crude methanol with the concentration of 95 %. In the circulation mode, a methanol output of 427.7 kg/(m3 cat·h) was achieved on the catalyst.

Internal Conversion in the Membrane-Supported SOFC

Steam reforming is a highly endothermic process of hydrogen or synthesis gas production from methane or other hydrocarbon fuels. Metals from group VIII of the Periodic table are catalysts for steam reforming; nickel is the most commonly used among them. Platinoid catalysts: rhodium, ruthenium and palladium are more active, but less frequently used due to their high cost. Nickel catalysts have proven their effectiveness due to the simplicity of their production, stability and chemical activity [1]. It is known that the heat required for the endothermic process of steam reforming can be provided by an electrochemical reaction in a stack of high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells [2,3]. In the case of internal reforming, the process of steam reforming of methane proceeds directly at the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) due to the high operating temperature and the presence of nickel in the composition [4,5]. The advantage of internal reforming is not only thermal, but also chemical integration of reforming agent and generator – the water vapor produced during the SOFC anodic electrochemical reaction can be used for reforming without the need for anode recycling organization. Also, the endothermic effect of steam reforming can be used to control the temperature of the stack. As it was shown in work [6] feeding of the mixture containing 30% of methane into the electrolyte-supported SOFC stack to the input leads to 22% of methane observed at the output. Thus, based on the literature data, we cannot expect a high conversion rate in the process of internal methane reforming. Therefore, studies of the internal methane conversion process were carried out on an experimental short stack of two 100x100 mm electrolyte-supported SOFCs. A whole series of experiments were carried out on H2+CH4+H2O mixtures with different sets of conditions – an increase in the ratio and consumption of methane, and then a decrease in temperature. The ranges of methane consumption and other key parameters of the experiment were based on the results of the analysis of available literature data on the experimental study of the kinetics of methane steam conversion on cermet SOFC anodes. Prior to the experiments, discussions were mainly caused by the probable carbon deposition at the anodes and the associated rapid performance degradation, the capabilities of the anodes for internal conversion were upper estimated according to the fuel consumption of SOFCs, so it was assumed that, at worst case, the conversion provides only its internal consumption needs. The results of experiments at an operating temperature of 850°C showed that the kinetics of internal conversion was largely underestimated. The assembly of two SOFCs converts methane up to concentrations not exceeding the calculated equilibrium ones, up to the maximum available flow rate on the equipment used – 187 ml/min – even without current passing. This fuel flow rate is capable of providing a current of up to 53 A, while the rated operating current of these SOFCs is about 20 A, up to 30 A on methane-rich fuel. This means, that the conversion capabilities of SOFC even in the absence of current are at least twice higher than their own needs. The current further stimulates the conversion by generating additional steam. In order to discover the limits of conversion capabilities, the temperature was lowered to 750°C. The result of the conversion at maximum flow rate proceeding up to equilibrium values was repeated. Thus, in the course of the experiments, it was not possible to obtain methane concentrations in the exhaust gas that significantly exceed the equilibrium ones. This result turned out to be extremely unexpected and undoubtedly positive, since it demonstrates an extremely high potential of internal conversion and opens the way to a sharp decrease in the requirements for the degree of conversion of fuel supplied to SOFC, abandonment of a bulky fuel processor, reduction of costs for SOFC cooling and, thereby, an increase in efficiency and reducing the mass and dimensions of SOFC power plants. This work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Scientific Foundation, grant no. 17-79-30071.

АНАЛІЗ МОЖЛИВОСТІ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ВОДНЕВИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ ДЛЯ КОМПЕНСАЦІЇ НЕСТАБІЛЬНОСТІ НЕГАРАНТОВАНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ ЕНЕРГІЇ

Nowadays, there is an increase in the installed capacity of solar (mainly) and wind energy, which requires additional balancing reserves and requires the improvement of existing and development of new balancing methods. If at the end of 2018 the total capacity of PV and WPP was 1.7 GW (excluding the occupied territories), then at the end of 2020 it increased to 8 GW (including PV of households). Thus, the simultaneous influence of two reinforcing factors affected – a decrease in available control volumes at TPPs and an increase in the need for shunting generation due to increasing uneven daily consumption schedule and increasing volumes of stochastic generation from RES, namely unsecured power stations – PV and WPP. As a result, this created a problem of shortage of shunting generation and led to the need to build new high-shunting capacity, such as using hydrogen technology. Therefore, the article analyzes the problems of electricity that can be solved through the use of hydrogen technologies. The preconditions of occurrence of these problems are investigated and the ways of their overcoming are offered. Many developed countries, such as the United States and China, have a positive experience of using hydrogen technology as a source of electricity. Ukraine has adopted a Roadmap for the development of hydrogen energy for the period up to 2035 to ensure the use of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy source. Therefore, the article discusses in detail the methods of obtaining hydrogen fuel. The variety of methods for producing hydrogen is one of the main advantages of hydrogen energy, as it increases energy security and reduces dependence on certain types of raw materials. These include: steam conversion of methane and natural gas, coal gasification, water electrolysis, pyrolysis, partial oxidation, biotechnology. The article proposes a schematic diagram of a combined power plant of low power, containing a battery of fuel cells, wind turbine, cell, receiver. This installation can be used as an autonomous power source.

Catalytically Active Coatings for Systems of Steam Conversion of Natural Gas: Synthesis and Catalytic Properties

Scientific and engineering problems in development of catalytically active compositions for immobilized catalyst systems for steam conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to hydrogen fuel have been considered. Processes for synthesis of catalytic powder mixtures and production of functional coatings based on them with the use of a promising method of supersonic cold gas-dynamic sputtering have been studied. The data of experimental study in the field of development of catalysts for methane steam conversion to hydrogen-containing fuel on the Cr15Al15 tape support using as starting materials Ni–Al–Al(OH)3–Ca(OH)2–Mg(OH)2 composite powder mixtures are given.

Catalytically active coatings for steam reforming systems: synthesis and catalytic properties

The paper considers science and engineering aspects of catalytically active compositions creation as regards immobilized catalysts for reforming hydrocarbon raw materials into hydrogen fuel. The authors investigate synthesis of catalytic powder mixtures and manufacturing of functional coatings by supersonic cold gas dynamic spraying. Research results in the field of creation of catalysts for steam conversion of methane to hydrogenous fuel on the metal support (Cr15Al15 tape support) are given. Composite powder mixtures (Ni–Al–Al(OH)3– Ca(OH)2–Mg(OH)2) were used as starting materials.

Modeling a Membrane Reformer with a Carbon-Monoxide Conversion Catalyst for Extracting High-Purity Hydrogen from Methane Steam-Conversion Products

A mathematical model for membrane extraction of high-purity hydrogen from methane steam-conversion products that takes into account hydrogen outflow through a palladium membrane (V-1 alloy) and chemical reactions among components of the starting gas mixture in the presence of a carbon monoxide conversion catalyst is presented. A practical example shows that the presented model describes adequately and rather accurately the main parameters of the model membrane reformer with the carbonmonoxide catalyst and allows the optimal technological regimes to be selected.

Obtaining synthesis-gas by the stone coal steam conversion using technology of aerosol nanocatalysis

We investigated technology for converting coal into synthesis-gas under conditions of aerosol nanocatalysis and substantiated its expected benefits. They include a reduction in temperature, an increase in the rate of reactions as a result of mechanochemical activation of the catalyst and coal. The experiments were performed in a rotating reactor. A distinctive feature of a given reactor is that it rotates in the vertical plane (in contrast to reactors with a fluidized layer and a vibro liquefied layer). The increase in temperature increases the yield of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. We showed an increase in the ratio of CO:H 2 caused by temperature. If we compare the new process to the steam conversion of methane, which proceeds at 800–900  С and at 2–2.5 bar, then the examined process of coal steam conversion using aerosol nanocatalysis proceeds stably at 600–700  С and at 1 bar. The difference between yields of products at different load of coal and at varying water feed rate is due to the influence of change in the molar ratio of the utilized raw materials on a change in part of certain reactions in the total quantity of reactions that occur during this process. The process of stone coal steam conversion is typically conducted at temperatures 1,000–1,100  С. In a given work, the temperature is much lower, by 350–450  С. This particular pattern is the advantage of carrying out this process using the technology of aerosol nanocatalysis

Kinetics of Mild Steam Reforming of Propane in the Presence of Excess Methane over a Ni-Containing Catalyst

Regularities of the low-temperature steam conversion or mild steam reforming (MSR) of propane in the presence of excess methane over Nicontaining catalyst were thoroughly studied. MSR of the methane-propane mixture was shown to proceed through two stages including the irreversible steam conversion of methane to carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the reversible reaction of methanation of carbon dioxide. The latter reaction is quasi-equilibrium at above ≈250 °C. The first-order rate independent of the concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor and the activation energy equal to ca. 120 kJ/mol are characteristic of the propane transformation during MSR of the methanepropane mixture. This is a rather simple macrokinetic scheme that allows the experimental data to be correctly described and temperature and mixture flow rate to be predicted for achieving the maximal propane conversion.

Conversion of hydrocarbon fuel in elements of thermal protection of a hypersonic flight vehicle

The problems of increasing the cooling capacity of hydrocarbon fuel by its thermochemical transformation in elements of thermal protection of a hypersonic flight vehicle and hydrogen production on board for providing stable burning in a scramjet are considered. A comparison of the chemical reactions of cracking and steam conversion of hydrocarbons, as regards the cooling capacity and amount of hydrogen in reaction products, is made. The process of steam conversion of methane in a thermochemical reactor and the factors influencing the conversion level of hydrocarbons are studied experimentally.

Experimental and theoretical study of the effectiveness of the production of hydrogen by steam conversion of methane using circulating fluidized bed technology

The catalytic filling impeded two-chamber circulating fluidized bed reactor meant for methane steam reforming synthesis gas production has been described. Experimental data conform satisfactorily with the process simulation.Optimum parameters of the analysed reactor were found on the basis of the heat balance equations, set for two chambers and the dependence between methane steam reforming products equilibrium concentrations and temperature with the ratio of CH4:H2O = 1:1.

Theoretical study of partial oxidation of methane by non-equilibrium oxygen plasma to produce hydrogen rich syngas

Modeling study of the partial oxidation of methane and methane-steam blend in a model flow reactor with given length in order to produce hydrogen rich syngas via activation of oxygen by specially arranged electric discharge is presented. It has been shown that the minor length of methane and methane-steam conversion into syngas is achieved at reduced electric field of 10 Td, when excited O2(a1Δg) and O2(b1Σg+) molecules are preferably generated in a discharge. The major yield of syngas due to methane partial oxidation takes place at CH4/O2 equivalence ratio ϕ = 3 and can be as large as 89%, whereas the greatest ratio of H2 mole fraction to CO one in syngas can be achieved at ϕ = 4, when the yield of syngas is notably smaller ∼69–76%. The addition of steam to methane delays the conversion process and does not allow increasing the syngas mole fraction and H2/CO ratio significantly at the flow reactor exit. The estimates of energy efficiency of the process showed that the major value of energy returned on energy invested is achieved for the plasma-chemical approach based on methane partial oxidation or a combination of partial oxidation with steam conversion.

Evaluation of efficiency of special-purity hydrogen production from products of steam conversion of methane and its close homologs in high-temperature converter–membrane equipment system using methane or carbon monoxide conversion catalyst

The feasibility and conditions of efficient and economic production of special-purity hydrogen from products of steam conversion of methane and its close homologs in a high-temperature converter–membrane equipment system containing a methane or carbon monoxide conversion catalyst are studied using numerical modeling. It is shown that the investigated system is suitable for efficient hydrogen production from methane, ethane, propane, and butane whose technical and economic indexes are similar.

Experience from the industrial operation of natural gas reforming supported Ni catalysts and ways to improve them

A technique for the production of reforming catalyst supports by slip casting under pressure has been developed at OOO NIAP-KATALIZATOR. This technique allows us not only to widen the possibility of obtaining supports of different complex shapes, but also to produce supports based on pure alumina (α-Al2O3) without additions of calcium and magnesium, thus providing increased stability even under severe operational conditions. This work presents the results from the development and industrial operation of the new-generation NIAP-03-01Sh catalyst shaped as perforated spheres and the NIAP-03-01 natural gas conversion catalyst with grains shaped as cylinders with seven holes and biconvex edges. The use of the new-generation NIAP-03-01Sh catalys in industry opens up wide prospects for increasing the productivity and economic characteristics of the steam conversion of methane in tube furnaces.

Extraction of extra pure hydrogen from methane steam conversion products in membrane equipment, combined simultaneously with two CO and CH4 conversion catalysts

A numerical modeling method is used to study conditions and parameters for effective preparation of extra pure hydrogen from methane conversion products within a high-temperature converter system, i.e., membrane equipment using two catalysts (CO and CH4 conversion) simultaneously within a high-pressure vessel. Sufficiently complete use is achieved for the starting steam and methane mixture for preparation of high purity hydrogen with the minimum possible content of H2, CO, and CH4 impurities in the discharge gas.

Power- and resource-saving process for producing syngas from natural gas in methanol production

The analysis of methanol production from syngas without feedstock recirculation flowing under constant pressure is carried out. Natural gas from Yamal deposits (Russian Federation) is used as feedstock. The catalytic conversion of natural gas to syngas is studied experimentally. The kinetic models of the reactions of steam conversion of methane and the model of the catalytic reactor for syngas production are built. The chemical process flowsheet for syngas production is calculated. The efficiency of the proposed chemical process flowsheet that allows producing target products (syngas and methanol) with low prime cost is demonstrated.