Optimization of Carbon Capture in Hydrogen Production via Steam Reforming: A Simulation-Based Case Study

Abstract

Hydrogen has been considered a future energy carrier for decades and the demand for hydrogen in refineries is always upward due to the revival of new technologies. The steam methane reforming method is frequently employed because of its high hydrogen generation efficiency at a cheap cost and minimal environmental footprint. However, depending on the type of feedstock, one unit of hydrogen generates 9-10 units of CO2 that need to be treated for environmental sustainability. Therefore, the optimization of hydrogen production and CO2 capture is critical to address the issue. The simulation research was conducted to anticipate and optimize steam reforming using Aspen HYSYS. A conversion-type reactor was used to develop this simulation-based model. The primary goal of this work is to investigate and optimize hydrogen production efficiency while mitigating CO2 by varying process parameters. The CO2 capture efficiency was investigated at the different yields for hydrogen production and a maximum of 98.8% absorption of the CO2 was achieved using the carbon capture system proposed in the current study. Later, the Aspen Energy Analyzer tool revealed potential improvements for energy and cost optimization.