Techno-economic assessment of a plant based on a three reactor chemical looping reforming system

Reforming by using chemical looping concept is an innovative and recent technology which is used to convert the hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen (H-2). The overall process produces separate streams of H-2 and CO2. The present study conducts a techno-economic assessment of a three reactor chemical looping reforming plant. The cost data are used for the plant's location to be in the United Arab Emirates. The effects of key operating parameters on the technical performance of the plant are investigated. In addition, the thermodynamic data from the model are also used to perform an economic assessment for calculating the cost of H-2 produced. The cost of H-2 production with CO2 capture is 1.679 $/kg which is significantly low when compared to the case of steam methane reforming with CO2 capture (about 2.39 $/kg). Furthermore, the cost of H-2 production in non-capture scenario is 1.404 $/kg which is comparable with the cost of H-2 production from steam methane reforming technology. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.