Modernization of the hydrogen production unit by pressure swing adsorption to improve product quality

About the author:

Abstract:

The object of this study is a hydrogen production unit with methane steam reforming technology. The article discusses modern trends in the development of hydrogen technologies, methods of hydrogen production, and purification. The main problem in hydrogen production is insufficient purification of the product from contaminants — CO, CO₂, and CH₄. The authors propose a method for deep purification of hydrogen by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and the introduction of this technology to improve the whole unit. The results show that the method of methane steam reforming is an effective and cost-effective way to produce hydrogen, and the introduction of an adsorption unit significantly increases the purity of the hydrogen obtained to 99.9% mol. Meanwhile, the technical and economic analysis of the proposed option showed a positive net present value (NPV) in the amount of 45 conventional units, which indicates great potential for implementation. This study can be valuable for enterprises of hydrogen technologies development and for assessing the potential benefits of using PSA.

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