The patent describes an advanced hydrogen production plant designed to efficiently convert hydrocarbon feedstock into hydrogen through a series of processes.
The system includes numerous components like reformers, reactors, recovery units, and compressors, all working together to produce and recover hydrogen while minimizing waste and improving sustainability.
With the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, the development of innovative technologies such as advanced hydrogen production plants has become crucial. One such promising advancement is described in a recent patent by Technip Energies France, which outlines a meticulously designed hydrogen production plant aimed at maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.
At the heart of the hydrogen production plant are the reformers. These components convert hydrocarbon feedstock into a reformed gas stream consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and some hydrocarbon impurities. The reformers can utilize either exothermic, oxygen-based autothermal (ATR) or partial oxidation (POX) reforming processes, and they include a heat recovery section to optimize energy utilization.
Before the feedstock enters the reformers, it is preheated using a fired heater. This step is crucial as it ensures the feedstock reaches the optimal temperature for efficient reforming, thus enhancing the overall productivity of the plant.
Once the initial reformed gas stream is generated, it passes into a water gas shift (WGS) reactor. This reactor plays an essential role in increasing hydrogen yield by converting carbon monoxide in the gas stream into additional carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
The plant incorporates a Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide Recovery Unit, which is strategically located downstream from the WGS reactor. This unit separates hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the shifted gas stream, resulting in a product stream enriched with hydrogen, another enriched with carbon dioxide, and a waste stream depleted of both.
To further enhance efficiency, the waste gas stream from the recovery unit is partially compressed using a compressor, producing a compressed gas stream. This compressed stream is then treated in a membrane separation system, which selectively permeates hydrogen, resulting in a hydrogen-enriched permeate stream and a hydrocarbon-enriched retentate stream.
The hydrogen-enriched permeate stream is partially redirected to the fired heater as a low-carbon fuel, which reduces reliance on traditional fossil fuels and promotes cleaner energy use. Additionally, the hydrocarbon-enriched retentate can be recycled back into the system, either as a feedstock or directly into the reformer or WGS reactor, further enhancing the plant’s sustainability.
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