Sharif Digital Repository

In order to achieve the international climate goals and to keep the global temperature increase below 2 °C, carbon capture and storage in large point sources of CO2 emissions has received considerable attention. In recent years, mitigation of CO2 emissions from the power sector has been studied extensively whereas other industrial point source emitters such as hydrogen industry have also great potential for CO2 abatement. This study aims to draw an updated comparison between different hydrogen and power cogeneration systems using natural gas and coal as feedstock. The goal is to show the relative advantage of cogeneration systems with respect to CO2 emission reduction costs. Accordingly, the... 

A rigorous two-dimensional model is developed for simulating the operation of a less-investigated type steam reformer having a considerably lower operating Reynolds number, higher tube diameter, and non-availability of extra steam in the feed compared with conventional steam reformers. Simulation results show that reasonable predictions can only be achieved when certain correlations for wall to fluid heat transfer equations are applied. In all cases, strong radial temperature gradients inside the reformer tubes have been found. Furthermore, the results show how a certain catalyst loading profile will affect the operation of the reformer. © 2008 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering  

In this work, an exergy analysis is performed for the waste heat recovery section (WHRS) of the steam-natural gas reforming (SNGR) process as a major energy intensive process. Two alternate conditions are investigated to evaluate the required thermodynamic parameters: normal operating condition and increase of C2+ components in the process feed stream. At normal operating condition, the exergy efficiency of WHRS amounts to 0.58 while some 17.2 kJ energy is destructed for each mole of H2 produced. If heavier than methane components are increased in the feed up to 8.5 mole %, despite the increase of H2 production, the exergy efficiency decreases down to 0.54... 

A 1-D heterogeneous model of sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR) process in a packed bed reactor consisting of nickel catalyst well mixed with CO2 sorbent particles is investigated for three types of common sorbents. The performance of SE-SMR process is studied under low medium pressure conditions (3 – 11 bar) to find the optimum operating conditions. Optimal CaO sorption corresponding to 82% CH4 conversion and 85% H2 purity is found at 900 K, 3 bar, 3.5 kgm−2s−1 and S/C of 3.0. In contrast, lithium zirconate (LZC) and hydrotalcite (HTC) sorbents exhibited best sorptions under the operating conditions of 773 K, 5 bar and S/C of 3 with CH4 conversion of 91.3% and 55.2%, and H2... 

Membrane reactors are an advanced technology with vast application capacities for equilibrium limited endothermic reactions. The main propose of this study is to offer an optimized packed-bed membrane steam methane reforming (SMR) tubular reactor for sustainable CH4 conversion by implementing triple-objective optimization model based on optimum H2/CO ratio for low temperature Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process. In this study a one dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model based on mass, energy, and momentum conservation laws is used to simulate the behavior of a packed-bed membrane reactor for production of syngas by SMR. In the optimization section, the proposed work explores optimal values of... 

Auto-thermal reforming (ATR), a combination of exothermic partial oxidation and endothermic steam reforming of methane, is an important process to produce syngas for petrochemical industries. In a commercial ATR unit, tubular fixed bed reactors are typically used. Pressure drop across the tube, high manufacturing costs, and low production capacity are some disadvantages of these reactors. The main propose of this study is to offer an optimized radial flow, spherical packed bed reactor as a promising alternative for overcoming the drawbacks of conventional tubular reactors. In the current research, a one dimensional pseudo-homogeneous model based on mass, energy, and momentum balances is... 

This work proposes a novel configuration for steam methane reformers (SMR) in order to improve their syngas stoichiometric ratio (SR). This is a decisive element for methanol producers to increase their production tonnage. While the optimum theoretical SR value is around 2, many conventional SMRs operate far beyond this value due to thermodynamic equilibrium limitations. In the new SMR design CO2, which could be an industrial off gas, is injected into the reactor in multiple stages. The corresponding CO2 injection flow rate is determined by a multi-objective optimization method. The optimum flow rate at each stage is chosen to minimise abs (SR-2) while maintaining the CH4 conversion at its... 

For the production of synthesis gas utilised in Midrex direct reduction plants, catalytic steam/CO2 hydrocarbon reforming in tubular reformer is the major process. Owing to the high heat input through the Midrex reformer tube wall, the endothermic nature of reforming reactions, low mass velocity of feed gas and large tube diameter, the catalyst bed is exposed to considerable axial and radial temperature gradients. These radial concentration and temperature gradients may create local areas with potential for carbon formation. To investigate this phenomenon, a rigorous two-dimensional model is developed for simulating the operation of a Midrex reformer which applies a dual catalyst loading... 

The present study aims to analyze a combined heat and power (CHP) system with an approach towards exergy analysis and employing biomass gasification. The cycle modeling was carried out using Cycle-Tempo and the main purpose was to achieve parametric analysis of the model. The systems function was studied by categorizing alternative biomass fuels, also qualitative and quantitative analyses of the biomass fuel samples were presented and considering the trade-off points, most appropriate biomass fuel with respect to exergy efficiency and delivered power were determined. The results indicated that the bagasse and wood chips had the total exergy efficiency of 54.5 and 57.1% in trade-off point,... 

This paper proposes using sodium-cooled fast reactor technologies for use in hydrogen vapor methane (SMR) modification. Using three independent energy rings in the Russian BN-600 fast reactor, steam is generated in one of the steam-generating cycles with a pressure of 13.1 MPa and a temperature of 505 °C. The reactor's second energy cycles can increase the gas-steam mixture's temperature to the required amount for efficient correction. The 620 ton/hr 540 °C steam generated in this cycle is sufficient to supply a high-temperature synthesis current source (700 °C), which raises the steam-gas mixture's temperature in the reactor. The proposed technology provides a high rate of hydrogen... 

Novel self-supported Mgy(CuxNi0.6-xMn0.4)1-yFe2O4 with (y = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and x = 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.45, 0.6) oxygen carriers (OCs) are synthesized through the co-precipitation method. The synthesized OCs’ properties are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The synthesized OCs are assessed in Chemical Looping Steam Methane Reforming (CL-SMR) process subject to different mesh sizes, reaction temperatures, Steam/Carbon... 

The self-supported CuxNi0.6-xMn0.4Fe2O4 oxygen carrier (x = 0.1–0.5) is synthesized to be applied in the chemical looping steam methane reforming (CL-SMR) process through the synthesized co-precipitation method. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken model is adopted to evaluate the effects of independent variables on the functionality of responses as well as predicting the best response volume. In this method, the variables consisting of reaction temperature (550–700°C), oxygen carrier (OC) loading percentage (0.1–0.5), steam-to-CH4 ratio (S/C), (1.5–3.5), and redox cycles’ count (10–24) and the responses consisting of hydrogen (H2) production yield, CH4 conversion... 

Glycerol might be converted into hydrogen through a catalytic reforming process. In order to design an effective route, the choice of reaction conditions and in particular its medium considered yet a crucial issue still needing further investigations. In this research, a mathematical model of reforming processes in vapor (i.e., steam reforming (SR) and liquid phase (i.e.; aqueous phase reforming (APR)) were developed. This was performed in terms of understudying effects of parameters including the reactor diameter, catalyst morphology (i.e., particle size) and mass flow rate on the glycerol conversion. Then, a superior reaction medium in terms of these variables was determined. For data... 

Kinetic data relevant to steam methane reforming (SMR) are often applied to catalysts and conditions for which they have not been derived. In this work, kinetic rates for the two SMR and water gas shift reactions were derived for 12 commonly used reforming catalysts based on conversion data obtained from the literature. Subsequently, these rates were tested in dynamic operation, steady-state, and equilibrium using a 1-D reactor model developed in-house with gPROMS model builder. Modelling outputs were further validated independently at equilibrium using the software chemical equilibrium with applications (CEA), and the literature. The effect of variables such as temperature, pressure, steam... 

Potent carbon-neutral energy carriers bring a vital solution for sustained industrialization and environmental protection. Hydrogen as a novel zero-emission energy carrier offers more than twice energy per unit mass compared to other fuels. Membrane reactor technology transforms gray hydrogen to blue by selective hydrogen separation and carbon dioxide capture from the product mixture. Moreover, improved reactant conversion during reversible steam reforming of methane, methanol, and ethanol; water gas-shift; and dehydrogenation of cyclic and aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as enhanced hydrogen yield are results of selective and distributed hydrogen separation from membrane reactor. In this... 

The steam reforming of ethylene glycol, a simple model compound for biomass-derived liquids, is considered to be an environmentally green process for producing renewable hydrogen. Both Pt and Ni species are known for their catalytic activity under steam reforming reaction conditions. In this investigation, alumina supported Ni-Pt bimetallic catalysts (X wt% Ni-Y wt% Pt/Al2O3 named XNi-YPt) were employed for steam reforming of ethylene glycol. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, H2-TPR, H₂-Chemisorption, and TEM. It was observed that Ni/Pt ratio strongly affected the redox behavior, BET surface area, and particle size of the samples that in turn affected their catalytic... 

In this paper, a comparative techno-economic evaluation of hydrogen production by glycerol reforming in aqueous and gaseous phases are presented. To accomplish the techno-economic evaluation, firstly the process modeling and design are presented. Based on the equipment purchased costs, with 80 kg/h hydrogen production, the total cost of hydrogen production is estimated 3.65 and 3.55 $/kgH2 for steam reforming and aqueous phase reforming plants, respectively. Regarding the installation factor in the equipment costs, the total cost of hydrogen production is estimated 7.49 and 7.45 $/kgH2 for steam reforming and aqueous phase reforming plants, respectively. To investigate the impact of... 

Currently, ammonia, as a clean and sustainable energy carrier, is intensively synthesized from its elements during the Haber-Bosch technology. This process requires a large amount of energy and emits numerous amounts of carbon dioxide, because hydrogen is dominantly produced from fossil fuels through reforming processes. Biomass-derived glycerol steam reforming is an attractive alternative to traditional reforming for reducing the dependence on hydrocarbon resources and mitigating climate change. This research aims to intensify a heat-integrated process for the co-production of ammonia and syngas from glycerol valorization. In this process, glycerol reforming continuously provides hydrogen...