Using chemical looping technology to produce hydrogen

A brief analysis of the prospects for the use of hydrogen and the development of methods for its production is given. It has been shown that the cost of low carbon footprint hydrogen with conventional steam reforming (SMR) with CO₂ capture (CCS) will remain at € 1-2 / kg between 2019 and 2050. The cost of hydrogen obtained by electrolysis was 3-7 € / kg in 2019, but it is expected to decrease in the future. It is believed that by 2050 both technologies will be in equal demand with a slight difference in costs depending on regional conditions. Hydrogen produced by electrolysis from wind energy requires a much larger area (almost 3 orders of magnitude) than using SMR technology from fossil fuels. The state of the art in chemical looping technology has been reviewed for hydrogen production. It has been shown that the production of hydrogen using the chemical looping technology has attracted more and more interest in recent years. Such systems use 3 interconnected reactors. Features and main parameters of such systems are given in relation to the use of natural gas and coal. Chemical Looping Reforming (CLR) technology has significant potential for commercial use. In addition, this technology is environmentally friendly, as the clean CO₂ stream is ready for disposal. It has significant advantages over traditional technologies for producing hydrogen by reforming natural gas. One of the most important issues in the use of chemical looping technology is the hydrodynamics of interconnected reactors. Some results of experimental research in Russia carried out by JSC "VTI" on a large aerodynamic test rig are given. It is planned to conduct research at the firing model of a system of interconnected reactors with a real temperature of the process. Such research will create the necessary scientific groundwork for advanced installations for hydrogen producing from fossil fuels without CO₂ emissions.

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