New technology for hydrogen recovery
The pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process involves recovering hydrogen from a mixture of methane, CO2, carbon monoxide and nitrogen. This is achieved by injecting the gases into columns that contain a chemical adsorbent. Hydrogen does not react with the adsorbent and can subsequently be recovered. Work on the HY2SEPS-2 (Hybrid membrane - Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification systems) initiative resulted in the development of a hybrid PSA system that includes a membrane separation process. An important advantage of the hybrid system is that it can capture CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere. Researchers attempted to develop membranes with advanced characteristics, but found that a commercial CO2-selective membrane was superior to the membrane they had developed. They also investigated adsorption materials with varying structural characteristics and found that the best material for CO2 adsorption was another commercial product. The team built a prototype and compared it to a conventional PSA system. They found that the hybrid system increased hydrogen yield by 4 % without sacrificing purity. Adsorption time increases by 8 %, which has a positive effect on equipment lifetime. Project findings and outcomes can ultimately improve hydrogen production. Hydrogen is important for renewable energy infrastructure, for example in fuel cells for cars. In addition to this, carbon emissions are reduced through the hybrid system.
Keywords
Hydrogen recovery, CO2, pressure swing adsorption, hybrid membrane, hydrogen purification
