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ABSTRACT
Thermodynamic analysis and optimization for the steam methane reforming (SMR) hydrogen production system using the high temperature gas-cooled reactor pebble-bed module power plant (HTR-PM) are investigated in this work. Based on the thermodynamic-equilibrium model, parameters of thermal efficiency (η), hydrogen production (YH2/methane), methane conversion rate (X1) and carbon monoxide conversion rate (X2) are calculated under the specified temperature (T), pressure (P) and water-to-carbon ratio (S). The influence of S, T, P on η, YH2/methane, X1 and X2 is then analyzed. It considers a wide range of operating conditions (T = 400–1200°C; P = 2–7 MPa and S = 2–10). The results show that the influence of on the system performance is significant. When T > 950°C, η and YH2/methane increases slowly (4 < S ≤ 6) or reduces (S > 6). For the operating conditions of HTR-PM (P = 7 MPa; S = 6 and T = 950°C), the maximum value of η is 63.44% and the maximum YH2/methane is 3.3 mol. At last, system optimized parameters are illustrated.
Nomenclature
| HTR-PM | = | The high temperature gas-cooled reactor pebble-bed module |
| JAERI | = | The Japan atomic energy research institute |
| HTTR | = | The high temperature engineering test reactor |
| HTGR | = | The high temperature gas cooled reactor |
| HTR-10 | = | The high temperature gas-cooled test reactor of 10 MW |
| HTTR/SMR | = | The high temperature test reactor integrated with steam methane reforming |
| INET | = | The institute of nuclear and new energy technology |
| NFE | = | the project nuclear long-distance energy |
| SR | = | The steam reformer |
| ST | = | The steam generator |
| I-S cycle | = | The iodine-sulfur thermal chemical cycle |
| HyS cycle | = | The hybrid-sulfur thermal chemical cycle |
| EVAI | = | The einzelrohr versuchs anlage |
| HTSE | = | high temperature steam electrolysis |
| SMR | = | steam methane reforming |
| η | = | The thermal efficiency, % |
| X1 | = | The methane conversion rate, % |
| X2 | = | The carbon monoxide conversion rate, % |
| YH2/methane | = | The hydrogen production rate of one molar methane, mol |
| T | = | The reforming temperature, °C |
| P | = | The pressure, MPa |
| S | = | The water-to-carbon ratio |
| yi | = | The mole fraction of i species |
| T0 | = | The outlet helium temperature of reactor, °C |
| T1 | = | The outlet helium temperature of intermediate heat exchanger, °C |
| T2 | = | The inlet process gas temperature at the catalyst bed, °C |
| P0 | = | The hydrogen production system pressure, MPa |
| = | The partial pressure of i species, MPa | |
| Kp1, Kp2 | = | The reaction equilibrium constants |
| = | The methane molar flow rate of reformer inlet, mol | |
| = | The steam molar flow rate of reformer inlet, mol |
Highlights
The HTR-PM, a large commercial nuclear power plant demonstration reactor (2x250 MWe), is used to provide heat for hydrogen production of steam methane reforming. And its hydrogen production system performances are analyzed.
A mathematical model to analyze the thermodynamic performance of the steam-reforming hydrogen production system using HTR-PM is proposed.
System parameters related to hydrogen production efficiency are simulated by solving the thermodynamic equilibrium reaction model.
The effects of the operation variables such as the reforming temperature, water-to-carbon ratio and the pressure on the system performance are analyzed.
Operation parameters of the HTR-PM to achieve a high hydrogen production rate are optimized.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary Material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here