TSA Unit CO2 Capture from Hydrogen Plants
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Steam methane reformer (SMR) plants emit large amounts of CO2 at low concentration and pressure, which are costly to capture using post-combustion amine-based technologies, and autothermal reformer units require expensive air separation units leading to additional CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a temperature swing adsorption (TSA) unit in conjunction with a CO2 removal process, such as amine or cryogenic units, to capture CO2 from the SMR process, where the TSA unit produces high-purity hydrogen and the CO2-rich off-gas is treated to increase CO2 concentration for further processing or storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If post-combustion amine-based technology is used to capture CO2 from SMR plants, then CO2 removal capability is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The CO2 removal process is divided into two stages: first, aMDEA removes the majority of CO2 from the hydrogen stream; second, a TSA unit removes remaining CO2 and other impurities. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall cost compared to using a single high-performance system throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of CO2 by combining two processes: aMDEA produces a stream with higher CO2 concentration, which is then fed to the TSA unit. This parameter transformation makes the CO2 capture more economically viable by creating a more concentrated feed for the second stage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If autothermal reformer units are used to produce CO2-free hydrogen, then CO2 emissions are reduced, but cost increases due to expensive air separation units
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to completely eliminate CO2 through expensive ATR technology, the invention accepts CO2 as a byproduct and converts it into a beneficial concentrated stream suitable for utilization or storage. The CO2 that would otherwise be a harmful emission at low concentration is transformed into a high-purity product stream.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional PSA units are used to purify hydrogen, then hydrogen purity is improved, but CO2 emissions at low concentration remain costly to capture
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of focusing solely on producing high-purity hydrogen and treating CO2 as waste, the invention inverts the approach by designing the process to simultaneously produce both high-purity hydrogen and a concentrated CO2 stream. The TSA unit is configured to deliver both products of high value.
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
Significantly reduces CO2 emissions from SMR plants by optimizing the TSA process to enhance CO2 concentration and purity, making it feasible for further utilization or storage, while also producing high-purity hydrogen.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature swing adsorption (TSA) unit, which produces high-purity hydrogen and a CO2-rich stream
Implementation Method 2
the CO2-rich off-gas is treated to increase CO2 concentration for further processing or storage
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a process which eliminates or reduces the CO2 emissions from a steam methane reforming and autothermal reforming plant. The process preferentially uses temperature swing adsorption units which are employed to purify the hydrogen stream instead of more conventional solvent based aMDEA plants to remove the CO2 from the gas stream when creating a higher purity hydrogen stream.