Hydrogen from biomass via thermo-chemical route –
Status of development and perspectives
Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Hermann Hofbauer
Vienna University of Technology
Bioenergy2020+ GmbH
Content
■ Process chains for hydrogen production
■ Methane to hydrogen
■ Biomass to hydrogen
■ Chemical reactions and maximal yields
■ Polygeneration with hydrogen production
■ Definition
■ CHP and pilot plant Oberwart
■ Polygeneration process chains
■ Experimental results
■ hydrogen-electric vision
■ Conclusions
Conventional process chain: Natural gas to hydrogen
Conventional process chain: Natural gas to hydrogen
H2-Efficiency: 76 %
Tail gas
recycle
Bio-H2
Flue gas
cooler
Flue gas
filter
Combustion airSteam
Chimney
Flue gas
blower
Ash
Process chain: Biomass to hydrogen (1)Project: „BioH2-4Industries“
Biomass Reforming CO-Shift-Reaction Pressure swing adsorption (PSA)
Process chain: Biomass to hydrogen (2)Project: „BioH2-4Industries“ - Results from simulation
Efficiency:
76 % 60 %
Production of hydrogenSteam reforming
General
CHnOm + (1-m).H2O = CO + (1+n/2-m).H2
Methane (n=4, m=0)
CH4 + H2O = CO + 3.H2
Biomass (n=1,44, m=0,66)
CH1,44O0,66 + 0,34.H2O = CO + 1,06.H2
Reaction conditions: 800-900 °C
Catalysts: Ni, Ca, Fe
Production of hydrogenWater-Gas-Shift-Reaction (WGSR)
Water-Gas-Shift-Reaction (WGSR)
CO + H2O = CO2 + H2
Biomass:
CO + 1,06.H2 + H2O = CO2 + 2,06.H2
WGSR conditions: 350-450 °C
Catalysts: Fe, Cr, Co, Mo, Sn
Methane:
CO + 3.H2 + H2O = CO2 + 4.H2
Maximum Yields
500 gH2 / kgnat.gas
~ 10 kgH2 / GJ
172 gH2 / kgwood
~ 10 kgH2 / GJ
Fuel
Pretreatment Gasification Gas Cleaning
Heat & Electricity
Production
Biogenous Residues
Energy Plants
Heat &
Electricity
Wood
Clean
Bio-H2Shift Reaction+
Gas Separation
Pilot Plant
Slip-Stream
1-6 m3/h
Polygeneration
Polygeneration process chain
Biomass to hydrogen and other products
Product gas from biomass steam reforming
Volume based Energy based
Gasification plant Oberwart
8 MW fuel input
2000 kg/h wood chips
2000 m3/h product gas
30 % electrical efficiency
30.000 operation hours
Dual Fluidized Bed (DFB) gasification Oberwartgasification = reforming heat & powerGas cleaningpower
Folie 13
Polygeneration Full process chain for hydrogen production
Container with pilot plant at CHP Oberwart
View into research container (1)left hand side
Membran
Pressure Swing
Adsorption
PEM Fuel Cell
View into research container (2)right hand side
Folie 16
Water Gas Shift
Reaction
PolygenerationProcess chain 1 for hydrogen production
Main gas components along the process chain 1
Hydrogen
purity: 99,95 %
Data for PEM-fuel cell
■ Type: PEM FC „Mobixane“
■ Nominal load: 2500W
■ Minimal load: 500W
■ Electrical efficiency: about 50 %
PolygenerationProcess chain 2 for hydrogen production
CHP Plant
clean prod. gas
LT gas
scrubbing1-step PI
membranePSA PEMFC
H2
- Recovery
Electricity consumption
Specific BioH2 production gBioH2/kgWood 13,5 47,9
LT gas
scrubbingPSA PEMFCWG-shift
CHP Plant
clean prod. gas
% Nm3BioH2/Nm3
H2 in PG 40 128
kWhel/Nm3BioH2 1,69 0,46
Comparison of performance data of
process chain 1 and 2
Process chain 1
Process chain 2
Hydrogen mass flows of process chain 2
to gas engine
CHP
Polygeneration – flexibility & potential
Hydrogen0
60
% Efficiency
30
80
Hydrogen
Electricity
Heat
Process
chain 1
Process
chain 2gH2/kgwood
80
CHP
Oberwart
Project
„BioH2-
4industries“
40
Economic analysis of hydrogen production based on steam reforming
Source: DBFZ 2013
DFB.
Gasification
9 MW H2
Heat Pipe.
Reformer
3 MW H2
Biogas
Reforming
6 MW H2
Fossil
Reference
Biogas
Reforming
6 MW H2
hydrogen-electric visionhydrogen-electric vision
BioH2BIOMASS-TO-HYDROGEN
Thank you for your kind attention !
Univ. Prof. Dr. Hermann Hofbauer
Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering
A-1060 Getreidemarkt 9/166