Numerical investigation of the thermophysical characteristics of the mid-and-low temperature solar receiver/reactor for hydrogen production

CATEGORY: HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Numerical investigation of the thermophysical characteristics of the mid-and-low temperature solar receiver/reactor for hydrogen production

Type	Journal Article
Author	Qibin Liu
Author	Yanjuan Wang
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0017931015312564
Volume	97
Pages	379-390
Publication	International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Date	June 2016
Abstract	With the considerations of the complex kinetic mechanisms of the methanol steam reforming using Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst, authors present a multiphysics coupling model integrating the mass, momentum and energy conservation governing equations to examine the thermophysical performances of the mid-and-low temperature solar receiver/reactor for hydrogen production.

Stable and active CuxO/TiO2 nanostructured catalyst for proficient hydrogen production under solar light irradiation

CATEGORY: HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Stable and active CuxO/TiO2 nanostructured catalyst for proficient hydrogen production under solar light irradiation

Type	Journal Article
Author	D. Praveen Kumar
Author	N. Lakshmana Reddy
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927024815006145
Volume	146
Pages	63-71
Publication	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Date	March 2016
Abstract	Researchers fabricated nanostructured TiO2 materials impregnated with Cu using a simple and eco-friendly preparation route. The materials were comprised of nano-tubes, -rods and -particles whose surfaces were modified by a fine dispersion of CuxO clusters (Cuo and Cu2O) as evidenced by TEM and XPS analysis. Researchers report on the highest known rate of H2 production using the nanostructured Cu-doped TiO2 photocatalyst (Cu1.5TNT) under solar light irradiation. This H2 production they attribute to synergistic effects of nanocrystalline structures, morphology and copper oxide species (Cuo and Cu2O) present in the photocatalyst.

Hydrogen production from natural gas using an iron-based chemical looping technology: Thermodynamic simulations and process system analysis

CATEGORY: HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
Hydrogen production from natural gas using an iron-based chemical looping technology: Thermodynamic simulations and process system analysis

Type	Journal Article
Author	Mandar V. Kathe
Author	Abbey Empfield
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626191501497X
Volume	165
Pages	183-201
Publication	Applied Energy
Date	March 1, 2016
Abstract	Hydrogen (H2) is a secondary fuel derived from natural gas. H2 is a significant component in refining operations, fertilizer production, and increasingly is used in the transportation industry as a clean combustion fuel. Recent research has focused on developing technology that reduces carbon emissions. Consequently, there has been an increase in technological developments for producing H2 from natural gas. The goal of such technologies is to minimize the cost increment associated with clean energy production. The natural gas processing chemical looping technology, developed at The Ohio State University (OSU), employs an iron-based oxygen carrier and a novel gas–solid counter-current moving bed reactor for H2 production. Researchers examined the theoretical thermodynamic limits for full conversion of natural gas through iron-based oxygen carrier reactions with methane (CH4), by utilizing simulations generated with ASPEN modeling software. Their study initially investigates the reducer and the oxidizer thermodynamic phase diagrams then derives an optimal auto-thermal operating condition for the complete loop simulation. This complete loop simulation is initially normalized for analysis on the basis of one mole of carbon input from natural gas. The H2 production rate is then scaled to match that of the baseline study, using a full-scale ASPEN simulation for computing cooling loads, water requirements and net parasitic energy consumption. The full scale ASPEN simulation is used to analyze the thermal efficiency of multiple energy recovery schemes, for further validation of the chemical looping process. Researchers found the chemical looping technology to produce a cold gas efficiency improvement of more than 5 percentage points and an effective thermal efficiency of more than 6 percentage points over the conventional steam methane reforming process, while producing H2 from natural gas with greater than 90% carbon capture.

High purity hydrogen production via sorption enhanced chemical looping reforming: Application of 22Fe2O3/MgAl2O4 and 22Fe2O3/Al2O3 as oxygen carriers and cerium promoted CaO as CO2 sorbent

CATEGORY: HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
High purity hydrogen production via sorption enhanced chemical looping reforming: Application of 22Fe2O3/MgAl2O4 and 22Fe2O3/Al2O3 as oxygen carriers and cerium promoted CaO as CO2 sorbent

Type	Journal Article
Author	A. Hafizi
Author	M. R. Rahimpour
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916302057
Volume	169
Pages	629-641
Publication	Applied Energy
Date	May 1, 2016
Abstract	High purity hydrogen can be produced using sorption enhanced chemical looping reforming (SE–CLR) in which an oxygen carrier and an in situ CO2 sorbent are involved. Researchers studied the effectiveness of alumina modification with Mg as the support of Fe2O3 based oxygen carriers in CLR and SE–CLR processes for clean hydrogen production. The 22Fe2O3/Al2O3 and 22Fe2O3/MgAl2O4 oxygen carriers were synthesized with impregnation and sequential impregnation methods, respectively. Prior to SE–CLR process, the performance of three different calcium based sorbents including industrial CaO, synthesized CaO and cerium promoted CaO were examined for CO2 sorption in calcium loop. Characterization results showed that the addition of cerium to the calcium-based sorbent effectively improves its structural properties and CO2 sorption performance. Results revealed that the sorbent surface area is a significant parameter affecting its CO2 removal efficiency at high temperatures.