A New Compact Hydrogen Generation Device
DOE Phase I Contract DE-FG02-06ER84601
This project deals with the development of a new compact hydrogen generation reactor. Research is needed to lower the cost of producing hydrogen. This new hydrogen generator will be a single vessel system with lower cost of production than traditional means of production. It will perform the current multistep generation of hydrogen from fossil fuels into a single reactor system. This will significantly reduce the size and cost of hydrogen generation.
This new hydrogen generator will combine several new and novel technologies that have been under development at Eltron Research Inc. This generator uses an oxygen transport membrane to separate oxygen from air. The oxygen is reacted with the hydrocarbon fuel to produce synthesis gas at about 1000 degrees C. The temperature is reduced by direct water injection. The resulting cool syngas and water is reacted over a water gas shift catalyst to produce more hydrogen. The resulting hydrogen and carbon dioxide rich stream are sent to a hydrogen transport membrane. The resulting products are pure hydrogen and a primarily CO2 rich stream suitable for sequestration.
The generation of hydrogen from fossil fuels appears to be the best bridge to the hydrogen economy. However, the efficiency of standard methods to generate hydrogen based on steam methane reforming needs to be improved. Also the need to sequester carbon dioxide from the production of hydrogen is not easily addressed in the current technology. This new compact hydrogen generator can reduce the cost of hydrogen and allow it to be manufactured in more distributed locations. This system may reduce the need for large H2 pipelines as methane can be transported via existing pipelines and H2 produced at or near the point of use.