Efficiency analysis of sorption-enhanced method in steam methane reforming process

Abstract

The sorption-enhanced method can change the thermodynamic equilibrium by absorbing CO₂. However, it also brings about the problems of high regeneration temperature of adsorbent and large regeneration energy consumption. In order to study the impact of enhanced adsorption methods on the overall energy cost of the system in the hydrogen production process, this paper analyzes and compares steam methane reforming and reactive adsorption-enhanced steam methane reforming with the energy consumption of hydrogen production products as the evaluation index. The results showed that the energy consumption per unit hydrogen production decreased from 276.21 MJ/kmol to 131.51 MJ/kmol, and the decomposition rate of H₂O increased by more than 20% after the addition of adsorption enhancement method. It is proved that the advantage of sorption enhanced method on pre-separation of CO₂ in the product makes up for the disadvantage of energy consumption of adsorbent regeneration. In addition, the ability of the process to obtain H element is improved by the high decomposition rate of H₂O, which realizes a more rational distribution of the element.