Integrated PSA Hydrogen Recovery With CO2 Capture From Bio-Renewable Purge Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen production processes face challenges in achieving high hydrogen production efficiency while effectively capturing and recovering CO2, leading to increased costs and complexity due to the need for additional high-pressure streams and segmented adsorber vessels.
Innovation Solution
An integrated process combining bio-renewable conversion with hydrogen production, utilizing a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system that produces at least two product streams to recover hydrogen and CO2, where the purge gas stream from the bio-renewable conversion process is reintroduced into the hydrogen production process, enhancing overall hydrogen recovery and reducing CO2 emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a conventional hydrogen production process with CO2 capture is used, then CO2 can be recovered, but the process requires additional high-pressure streams and segmented adsorber vessels, increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the CO2 capture function with the existing PSA hydrogen recovery process by integrating CO2 removal during the PSA cycles. Instead of adding separate CO2 capture equipment, the process utilizes the PSA adsorbent beds to simultaneously remove both hydrogen and CO2 from the reformer effluent, merging two separation functions into one system.
Solution Approach 2:
The PSA adsorber vessels perform multiple functions: hydrogen recovery, CO2 capture, and water removal. The same adsorbent beds that recover hydrogen also capture CO2 during specific cycles, eliminating the need for dedicated CO2 removal equipment and reducing overall process complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-purity CO2 capture is achieved through conventional methods, then CO2 recovery is improved, but the need for additional equipment and high-pressure streams increases operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The process recovers CO2 that would otherwise be discarded in the PSA purge streams. By capturing CO2 during the blowdown and purge phases, the system converts a waste stream into a valuable product, improving CO2 recovery efficiency while eliminating the need for additional separation equipment that would increase operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the PSA cycle operations to control CO2 capture. The same pressure and flow conditions that optimize hydrogen recovery are leveraged to simultaneously capture CO2, with the process automatically adjusting to maintain both hydrogen purity and CO2 capture efficiency without requiring additional control equipment.
3Productivity
If purge gas from bio-renewable conversion is vented, then the hydrogen production process is simple, but hydrogen recovery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The process continuously utilizes the purge gas from bio-renewable conversion as feedstock for the PSA unit. Instead of intermittent or batch processing, the system maintains continuous operation by constantly feeding the purge gas into the PSA adsorbers, ensuring uninterrupted hydrogen recovery and maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bio-renewable conversion process itself provides the feedstock for hydrogen recovery. The purge gas, which would otherwise be waste, serves as the input material for the PSA unit, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external hydrogen sources or additional feed preparation equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases hydrogen production efficiency, reduces net CO2 emissions, and simplifies the process by eliminating the need for high-pressure co-purge streams and segmented adsorber vessels, thereby lowering operational costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system that produces at least two product streams to recover hydrogen and CO2
Data Source
AI summary
A bio-renewable conversion process for making fuel from bio-renewable feedstocks is combined with a hydrogen production process that includes recovery of CO2. The integrated process uses a purge gas stream comprising hydrogen from the bio-renewable hydrocarbon production process in the hydrogen production process.