Dynamic model and performance of an integrated sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming process with separators for the simultaneous blue H₂ production and CO₂ capture

An integrated sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SESMR) process for simultaneous blue H₂ production and CO₂ capture is developed on the semi-central scale of ~ 48 ton H₂/day. The developed SESMR process consists of a cyclic fluidized-bed (CFB) system, heating and pretreatment systems, CO₂ capture system, a H₂ pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system, compressors, and a combustor. To analyze the CFB system consisting of a bubbling fluidized-bed (BFB) reactor and fast fluidized-bed (FFB) regenerator, a dynamic model is formulated using the conservation equations combined with the Lagrange and Eulerian approaches and gas-velocity prediction. After a validation with reference, the developed CFB model is integrated with the dynamic model of the PSA and the algebraic equations for the other units to analyze the dynamic behavior and performance of the integrated SESMR process. The energy efficiency (82.2%) and H₂ production cost of the SESMR process (12% reduction from that of the SMR process) are close to the prediction by the United States Department of Energy, let alone CO₂ capture. According to the sensitivity analysis, the temperature of the BFB reactor is the most important factor because it considerably affects the production rate, product quality, CO₂ capture, H₂ cost, and energy efficiency. Since the CFB model has been shown to accurately predict the performance and reasonably explain the dynamic behaviors, it can be applied not only to the SESMR process but also to other CFB-related processes. The SESMR process contributes to the design, optimization, control, and decision-making processes relating to centralized or semi-central blue H₂ production.