Heat integration modeling of hydrogen production from date seeds via steam gasification

The purpose of the current study is to identify the potential of energy-efficient hydrogen (H-2) production from date seeds as biomass via steam gasification process along with heat integration in Gulf countries. A reaction kinetics model has been established for steam gasification with in-situ carbon dioxide (CO2) capture of date seeds using MATLAB software. The kinetics of reactions involved in the gasification process was calculated using the optimization parameters fitting approach. The heat integration model has been developed via mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) in MATLAB. In the parametric study, temperature and steam/biomass ratio considered their impact on syngas composition and energy recovery. Results showed that both variables have a strong positive effect on H-2 production and depicted maximum production of 68 mol% at a temperature of 750 C-circle with steam/biomass ratio of 1.2. Methane (CH4) and CO2 production were low in the product gas, which showed the activity of water gas shift reaction, methanation reaction, and carbonation reaction. Utilization of waste heat via process heat integration within the system reduced system's external heat load. More than 70% of energy recovered, which could be utilized for gasification and steam production. Energy analysis and process heat integration proved a prospective approach for energy-efficient and sustainable hydrogen production from date seeds. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aims to identify the potential of energy-efficient hydrogen production from date seeds in Gulf countries via steam gasification process and heat integration. The reaction kinetics model and heat integration model were established using MATLAB software, showing positive effects of temperature and steam/biomass ratio on H-2 production. Utilization of waste heat within the system reduced external heat load and more than 70% of energy was recovered for gasification and steam production, making the process a prospective approach for sustainable hydrogen production from date seeds.