Continuous production of hydrogen from sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming in two parallel fixed-bed reactors operated in a cyclic manner

Hydrogen with purity higher than 90% was produced continuously by sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming reactions in two parallel fixed-bed reactors operated in a cyclic manner. The process involved sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming reactions and a sorbent regeneration reaction. First, through addition of a CO2 sorbent into a reforming reactor, the reactions of reforming, water-gas shift, and CO2 sorption were combined, and more CH4 was expected to convert H-2 in one reactor. Second, regeneration of the sorbent was carried out in the other reactor. The hydrogen production and sorbent regeneration processes were carried out simultaneously in the two fixed-bed reactors, operated in a cyclic manner by switching a methane/steam feed and an Ar-containing feed between the two reactors at a fixed feed switchover time. The critical value of the feed switchover time for achieving the production of higher concentrations of hydrogen was investigated and analyzed.