Core Research Projects: Capture, AC4 – Integration options for hydrogen and clean power synergies

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Key facts about this core research project

Theme: Capture
Researcher: Dr Hannah Chalmers, Dr Mathieu Lucquiaud
Institution: University of Edinburgh
Start date: 2017

Why is this research needed?

Electricity and hydrogen are two key low-carbon energy vectors to decarbonise energy used in the transport sector, space heating and industrial sectors. In future energy supply systems, both vectors may be generated at the same locations, i.e. low-carbon CCUS industrial clusters and may benefit from a shared infrastructure for natural gas supply, electricity grid connection, and transport and geological storage of CO2. This work investigate the integration of the process of hydrogen production with electricity generation using the same fuel source, i.e. natural gas with the ultimate objective of achieving cost reduction via the sharing of subcomponents of the CO2 capture process and via flexibility to cope with variations of both vectors in demand over time.

What is this research investigating?

Steam methane reformers (SMRs) and combined cycle gas turbine power plants (CCGTs), when combined with CCUS, have the potential to produce large quantities of low cost, on demand and near-zero carbon hydrogen and power.

This work investigates the scope for cost reduction by integration to use a single post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) system for both the SMR and the CCGT power plant. Sharing the CO2 capture process is possible via sequential combustion[1][2] of the SMR fuel gases in the gas turbine exhaust flue gas, containing a relatively large amount of excess oxygen, resulting in the co-generation of both low-carbon energy vectors in combined flue and power (CFP) plants with a single CO2 capture plant. Potential benefits therefore include shared sub-systems and an improved thermal integration that maximises either power or hydrogen production. Moreover a CO2 capture rate of 99.8% corresponding to net carbon neutrality may be achieved at no additional energy penalty when compared to a direct integration configuration in which the flue gases from each plant are mixed and feed to the capture plant. This research also focuses on establishing operational maps for a part load operation to decouple low carbon electricity and hydrogen generation in the CFP plant.

[1] Sanchez Del Rio, M., Gibbins, J., Lucquiaud, M. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control, 2016

[2] Gonzalez Diaz, A., Sanchez Fernandez, E., Gibbins, J., Lucquiaud, M. 2016, Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control, 51, 330-345

What does the research hope to achieve

Linking hydrogen and power production with CCUS may help to overcome adverse effects of short- and long-term variability in demand for both products (for example, see the Leeds H21 Citygate project) . Relevant modelling work is undertaken using gPROMS Process Builder (PSE), a process modeling platform that allows to create customised models and conduct analysis for an optimal thermal integration.

It is envisaged that, if this exploratory study indicates that the novel approaches being developed show promise, it may lead to more detailed work and collaboration with potential stakeholders, including hydrogen producers, utilities and OEMs. These results will feed forward into the research in work package AC5: Reduced Order Models.

Research updates

See below for recent updates and resources on this research project.

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September 2019 Conference presentation

See the presentation from our September 2019 Conference

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September 2019 Conference poster

See the poster presented at our September 2019 Conference

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September 2019 PCCC-5 Conference oral presentation

See the presentation given at PCCC-5

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March 2021 GHGT-15 Conference oral presentation

See the presentation given at GHGT-15

Research outputs

Find links to publications, datasets and any other outputs below.

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Frontiers in Energy Research publication

Sequential Combustion in Steam Methane Reformers for Hydrogen and Power Production With CCUS in Decarbonized Industrial Clusters

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International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

Application of Raman spectroscopy to real-time monitoring of CO2 capture at PACT pilot plant; Part 1: Plant operational data