Hydrogen networks synthesis considering separation performance of purifiers

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 16; pp. 8357 - 8373
• Main Authors: Zhang, Qiao, Liu, Guilian, Feng, Xiao, Chu, Khim Hoong, Deng, Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 27.05.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Graphical methods; Hydrogen; Hydrogen network; Hydrogen reduction; Hydrogen-based energy; Mass transfer triangle; Maximum hydrogen surplus; Minimum fresh hydrogen consumption; Network synthesis; Networks; Purification; Purification reuse; Separation; Transformations; Minimum fresh hydrogen consumption; Hydrogen network; APPL; Purification reuse; Maximum hydrogen surplus; MHS; Mass transfer triangle; MTT; PPL; Purification; Hydrogen; Minimum fresh hydrogen; consumption; Performance; Surplus; Mass transfer
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.03.189

In hydrogen networks, purifiers are quite often used to reduce operating costs. They should be properly integrated with the whole network in order to maximize the benefit. In this paper, a graphical method is proposed for targeting the minimum fresh resource consumption of hydrogen networks considering separation performance of purifiers. The material balance of the whole hydrogen network shows that the extent of fresh hydrogen reduction is subject to the maximum hydrogen surplus. Based on such observation, the mass transfer triangle is developed to describe the hydrogen transformation from maximum hydrogen surplus to fresh hydrogen. With both the purity and the flow rate of purification streams optimized, the minimum fresh hydrogen consumption can be determined through the proposed graphical method. Two cases are studied to illustrate the proposed methodology. •A novel graphical method is proposed for targeting the minimum fresh consumption.•The separation performance of the purifiers is considered.•The mass transfer triangle is developed to describe the hydrogen transformation.•Both the purity and the flow rate of purification streams can be graphically optimized.