STructured unconventional reactors for CO2-fRee Methane catalytic crackING

Informacje na temat projektu

STORMING

Identyfikator umowy o grant: 101069690

DOI

10.3030/101069690

Projekt został zamknięty

Data podpisania przez KE 3 Czerwca 2022

Data rozpoczęcia 1 Września 2022

Data zakończenia 31 Sierpnia 2025

Finansowanie w ramach

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Koszt całkowity

€ 3 125 714,75

Wkład UE

€ 3 125 714,75

Koordynowany przez

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - STORMING (STructured unconventional reactors for CO2-fRee Methane catalytic crackING)

Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-03-01 do 2025-08-31

Podsumowanie kontekstu i ogólnych celów projektu

H2 will contribute to the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors such as the chemical industry, glass, tiles, and steel manufacturing as well as freight transport. The production of economic H2 by a low CO2 emissions (the notorious greenhouse gas) process is a requisite.
STORMING is developing a catalytic process showing zero CO2 emissions. The biomethane from biogas is converted through a process powered by renewable electricity into pure H2 and highly valuable carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for battery applications.
Low cost, easily available and non-toxic iron-based innovative catalysts, and the electrification (joule, microwave, and induction heating) of 3D printed structured reactors are investigated to enable an accurate thermal control resulting in high energy efficiency.

Prace wykonane od początku projektu do końca okresu sprawozdawczego oraz najważniejsze dotychczasowe rezultaty

The work has been focused on the smart rational catalyst design proposed in STORMING. This methodology combines modelling (computational simulations by high throughput density functional, DFT, and model catalysts) with experimental results from laboratory catalytic reactors and in situ/operando synchrotron characterization. A combination of Fe-based promoted catalysts and reaction conditions have been identified to simultaneously produce H2 and base grow CNTs. The key species and mechanisms involved in the CH4 activation and CNTs growth have been identified.
The environmentally friendly and economical process development is supported by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the laboratory process and market analysis of H2 and CNTs production and a preliminary techno economical analysis.
The development of the electrified catalytic reactors has been performed with the production of the 3D printed monoliths and the setup of Joule, MW, and Induction heated reactors. The kinetic and micro-kinetic modelling of the CNTs growth and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations helped in the reactor design. Moreover, the purification technologies of the biogas and the H2 produced have been selected. The final Joule Heated TRL5 prototype was designed, assembled and validated.

Innowacyjność oraz oczekiwany potencjalny wpływ (w tym dotychczasowe znaczenie społeczno-gospodarcze i szersze implikacje społeczne projektu)

We have proposed, for the first time, base growth of CNTs on Fe-based catalysts under reaction conditions able to achieve H2 productivities above 5 LH2/gcat*h. The CNTs base growth has been demonstrated by ex situ and in situ characterization of real and model catalysts with techniques developed for this purpose. Meanwhile, the key role of the active phase on balancing the CH4 activation and C diffusion has been proved by computational and experimental studies, as well as the kinetic model. For the Induction heated reactor Fe–Ni–Co catalysts achieve the highest and most stable CH₄ conversion (> 40 %) and carbon yields (≈ 0.2 g h⁻¹) at 650 °C for more than 10 h, since they act as both magnetic susceptors and active catalytic phases.
The structuration of the catalyst by 3D printing confirmed the ability of the structured materials to decrease the reactor clogging and promote the Joule and MW heating.
These results are the basis for the further development of a continuous process in STORMING that will confirm the feasibility of the biomethane decomposition for the CO2-free production of H2, valorising the carbon as CNTs. Moreover, they will contribute to promote the research on cheap, easily available and non-toxic Fe-based catalysts. Last but not least, they provide a robust methodology for the development of other types of catalysts.