Hydrogen Production

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Production of hydrogen
Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of feedstock. These comprises of non-renewable fossil resources, such as coal and natural gas, as well as renewable resources, such as biomass and water with input from renewable energy sources for example sunlight, hydro-power, wind and waves.
The variability of process technologies used range from chemical and biological to electrolytic, photolytic and thermo-chemical. Each of these mentioned technologies are in a different stage of development, and each offer unique prospects, remunerations, benefits and challenges. Local availability of feedstock, the development of the technology, market applications, uses and demand, policy issues, and costs will all influence the choice and effectiveness of the various options for hydrogen production. The figure below shows an overview of the various feed stocks and process technologies (R&D Priorities and Gaps, 2006).

Numerous technologies are already existing in the marketplace for the industrial production of hydrogen. Dating from the late 1920s, the first commercial technology to produce pure hydrogen was the electrolysis of water. The main source for hydrogen production today was brought about in 1960’s when the production shifted slowly towards a non-renewable fossil based feedstock.

The current global hydrogen production in terms of where it is produced from is shown below:
 48% from natural gas
 30% from oil
 18% from coal
 4% from electrolysis of water
Natural gas reforming
Natural gas reforming is an advanced and developed production process of hydrogen production that builds upon the existing natural gas pipeline delivery infrastructure. Thermal processes, such as steam-methane reformation and partial oxidat...

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... entrained flow processes are favoured to maximise carbon conversion to gas, thus avoiding the formation of significant amounts of char, tars and phenols. A typical reaction for the process is given in equation below, in which carbon is converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
C(s) + H2O + heat → CO + H2
Since this reaction is endothermic, additional heat is required, as with methane reforming. The CO is further converted to CO2 and H2 through the water-gas shift reaction, described in equation (2.2). Hydrogen production from coal is commercially mature, but it is more complex than the production of hydrogen from natural gas. The cost of the resulting hydrogen is also higher. But since coal is plentiful in many parts of the world and will probably be used as an energy source regardless, it is worthwhile to explore the development of clean technologies for its use.

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