Plasma steam methane reforming (PSMR) using a microwave torch for commercial-scale distributed hydrogen production

Although large-scale hydrogen production through conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) is available at an affordable cost, there is a shortage of hydrogen pipeline infrastructure between production plants and fueling stations in most places where hydrogen is needed. Due to the difficulties of transporting and storing hydrogen, onsite hydrogen production plants are desirable. Microwave plasma torch-based methods are among the most promising approaches to achieving this goal. The plasma steam methane reforming (PSMR) method discussed here has many benefits, including a high energy yield, a small carbon footprint, real-time fueling because of the short start-up time (<10 min), and the absence of expensive metal-based catalysts. Methane reforming and water gas shift reaction (WGSR) co-occur in the method advanced without a separate WGSR to achieve a high H-2 yield. This study examines an experimental investigation of commercial-scale hydrogen production through PSMR utilizing a microwave torch system. The optimum results obtained showed that the hydrogen production rate was 2247 [g(H-2)/h], and energy yield was 70 [g(H-2)/kWh] of the absorbed microwave power. An assessment of the results indicated a similar trend to that of simulated data (ASPEN Plus). The experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate the potential of a catalyst-free PSMR for commercial-scale hydrogen production. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates a microwave plasma torch-based method called plasma steam methane reforming (PSMR) as a solution to the shortage of hydrogen pipeline infrastructure. The experimental results demonstrate that PSMR has high energy yield, small carbon footprint, and real-time fueling capabilities, making it a promising option for commercial-scale hydrogen production.