Sorption Enhanced Reforming with integrated CO₂ capture
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Julien Meyer
Through 20 years of R&D in the field of process intensification, and by applying its expertise in material and process technology, the department of Environmental Industrial Processes at IFE (Miljøvennlige industriprosesser) has developed the Sorption-Enhanced Reforming technology for low-carbon hydrogen production from gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock.
Sorption-Enhanced Reforming (SER) is an innovative emerging reforming technology that can be classified as a pre-combustion CO₂ capture technology. In the SER process, the reaction of methane with steam is carried out in the presence of a mixture of a Ni-based reforming catalyst and a selective CaO-based solid sorbent for CO₂. The unique feature of the process is that reforming, shift, CO₂ capture and CO₂ removal are integrated within only two vessels. When the solid CO₂-sorbent is mixed with the reforming catalyst, CO₂ in the syngas mixture is captured as it is formed in a carbonation reaction with CaO, causing the reforming and water gas shift reactions to proceed simultaneously beyond their thermodynamic equilibrium (Le Chatelier principle). The water gas shift (WGS) section is then eliminated. Near to pure CO₂ is obtained by regenerating the CO₂-sorbent using high temperature heat in a calcination reaction, eliminating costly separation steps downstream. The key advantages of the process are:
- an overall process intensification and simplification since no pre-reformer or shift reactors or scrubber/stripper reactors are needed
- lower reforming temperature
- high hydrogen concentration (+95 vol%, dry basis) in one single step
Our SER prototype installed at the IFE-Hynor Hydrogen Technology Centre produces up to 20 kg H2/day and can operate on natural gas, biogas, biomethane or gasification syngas, with only minor technical modifications (IFE Hynor Hydrogen Technology Center (IFE Hynor) – IFE)