Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production

from steam methane reforming

Dr. L N Raoa, Dr. H S Ushab, Dhananjay Punekarc (1BM15CH017), Pavan Nayake
(1BM15CH042), Ranjitha Arund (1BM15CH046)
a
External guide, Assistant Professor, Center for Sustainable Technologies, IISc, Bengaluru
b
Internal guide, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, BMS College of Engineering
cde
Students, Department of Chemical Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru

Increasing consumption of energy produced by fossil fuels leads to a larger

accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This incurs a dependency on
alternative sources of energy production. Hydrogen happens to be one of the most
promising sources of energy. Hydrogen is a propitious source of energy because it
can be combusted, similar to gasoline and natural gas, or converted to electricity in
a fuel cell without any carbon emissions at the point of use. The production of
hydrogen can be achieved via various process technologies, including thermal
(natural gas reforming, renewable liquid and bio-oil processing, biomass, and coal
gasification), electrolytic (water splitting using a variety of energy resources), and
photolytic (splitting of water using sunlight through biological and electrochemical
materials).
This study renders a brief introduction of steam methane reforming as source of
production of hydrogen and its socio-economic implications. Synthesis gas or H2 is
industrially produced by steam reforming of hydrocarbons. The feed used is natural
gas. Steam reforming of natural gas is always accompanied with methanation and
water gas shift reaction. Methanation involves the reaction of methane and carbon-
dioxide to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Products of methanation undergo
water gas shift reaction to produce high purity hydrogen which can be put to use.
Literature survey inculcates that steam methane reforming is one of the most wide
spread and industrially important method of production of hydrogen with high
efficiency. The literature survey will intend to consolidate the economic analysis of
various methods of hydrogen production that are industrially viable. Also, the crucial
process that are highly energy demanding will be identified so as to come up with
alternatives that are more energy economic.

KEYWORDS: Hydrogen, Steam Methane Reforming, Water Gas Shift Reaction,

Methanation