Process design and techno-economical analysis of hydrogen production by aqueous phase reforming of sorbitol

• Published in: Chemical engineering research & design Vol. 134; pp. 104 - 116
• Main Authors: Sladkovskiy, Dmitry A., Godina, Lidia I., Semikin, Kirill V., Sladkovskaya, Elena V., Smirnova, Daria A., Murzin, Dmitry Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rugby Elsevier B.V 01.06.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Aqueous phase reforming; Aqueous solutions; Cogeneration; Computer simulation; Costs; Design for recycling; Economic analysis; Electric fields; Experiments; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Lignocellulose; Optimization; Phase equilibria; Polyols; Process design; Process heat; Raw materials; Reforming; Sorbitol; Syrup; Techno-economics; Sorbitol; Process design; Aqueous phase reforming; Techno-economics; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0263-8762; 1744-3563
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2018.03.041

[Display omitted] •Detailed sorbitol aqueous phase reforming process design for 500kg/h H2 from sorbitol syrup was done.•For reactor modelling a complex reaction network was considered along with phase equilibria simulations.•Middle pressure steam co-generation and hot water recycle can significantly decrease the operation costs.•Total costs of hydrogen production are ca. 13$/kg with the feedstock cost taking the major contribution above 90%. The present study was focused on detailed sorbitol aqueous phase reforming (APR) process design. Aspen HYSYS software was used to design a 500kg/h hydrogen production plant operation with sorbitol syrup as a feedstock. For reactor modelling a complex reaction network was taken into account along with phase equilibrium simulations which determined to have a significant impact on the total process heat due to possibility of water evaporation. The model was adjusted and verified using the experimental data with 1%Pt/Al2O3. The process optimization has included several conceptual improvements such as middle pressure steam co-generation and hot water recycle which can significantly decrease the operation costs. The total costs of hydrogen were estimated as 12.97$/kg, where feedstock costs take the major contribution of 91.8%. The most feasible way of making APR economical attractive is production of polyols from the lignocellulosic biomass.