Low emission H₂ production (Task 3)

The current efficiency level of the H₂ production is around 60-70%. The goal of the task is to develop hydrogen production technology with an efficiency higher than 75% including capture of CO₂ to lower emissions from the H₂ industry.

The conventional way to commercially produce hydrogen (H₂) is to extract it from natural gas by reforming of methane . Although H₂ is environmental friendly in itself, the greenhouse gas CO₂ is a biproduct of H₂ production from fossil sources. The efficiency level of the H₂ production currently lies around 60-70%. The goal of this task is to develop hydrogen production technology with an efficiency higher than 75% including capture of CO₂ to lower emissions from the H₂ industry.

Our aim is to establish a modular Steam Methane Reformer (SMR), which is used to produce H₂, based on ceramic Protonic Membrane Reformer (PMR) technology. In this process, we want to identify and improve on the most critical material performance and stability issues of the membrane and seals under SMR operating conditions at around 800 °C as well as modelling the PMR module and its integration.

As this is pre-combustion capture technology, it relates to both Deployment cases.

We collaborate closely with industry partner CoorsTek Membrane Sciences who develops the PMR technology. Professors Harry Tuller and Bilge Yildiz (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA) are also associated with the task.

Results 2018

Main Results

Performance targets defined for a single PMR membrane for testing in NCCS, and for commercial deployment of the PMR technology.
Several modification and improvements to the experimental setup have been performed amid significant challenges with the experimental setup.
Simulation model for CoorsTek membranes was developed for modelling of PMR membrane and reactor.
Paper on theoretical studies of CO₂ and H₂O co-adsorption on membrane surface accepted for publication.

Impact and innovations

Knowledge of possible critical role of coke deposition in membrane anode.

Single tubular PMR membrane (dark grey) with electrode (light grey) and Cu-wire as current collector. PMR test could not be completed due failure of the membrane (cracked at the top), ascribed to unstable steam supply and coke deposition in the inner electrode.

Schematic of the various components of the membrane described in the simulation model.

Results 2017

The task deals with development of the Protonic Membrane Reformer (PMR) technology by CoorsTek Membrane Sciences which allows hydrogen production with CO₂ capture in a modular steam methane reformer.

The work aims to identify and improve material stability and performance issues of the ceramic membrane and seals under PMR operating conditions and thermal cycling.

A membrane unit at SINTEF was upgraded for testing of electrochemical membranes provided by CoorsTek and commissioned for PMR test conditions (800 °C and 10 bar pressure with a steam to carbon ratio of 2.5). A single-segment tubular membrane was tested under PMR conditions and further improvements were made to the setup.

A paper was submitted on atomistic studies of CO₂ adsorption on the BaZrO₃-based membrane material in connection with a research visit at MIT supported by CLIMIT and other RCN projects.

Journal Publications

2019: