Low-carbon hydrogen via integration of steam methane reforming with molten carbonate fuel cells at low fuel utilization

Hydrogen production is critical to many modern chemical processes – ammonia synthesis, petroleum refining, direct reduction of iron, and more. Conventional approaches hydrogen manufacture include steam methane reforming autothermal reforming, which today account for the lion's share generation. Without CO2 capture, these emit about 8.7 kg each H2 produced. In this study, a molten carbonate fuel cell system with capture proposed retrofit flue gas stream an existing Steam Methane Reforming plant rated at 100,000 Nm3 h?1 99.5% pure H2. The thermodynamic analysis shows emissions can be reduced by more than 95%, 0.4 0.5 CO2/kg H2, while producing 17% (with increase in natural input approximately 37%). Because additional power generation cell, efficiency debit associated quite small, reducing SMR from 76.6% without 75.6% capture. comparison, use standard amine technology reduces below 70%. This demonstrates synergistic nature cells, reform simultaneously capturing electricity, giving rise total very low yet high efficiency.