Thermoeconomical analysis of a natural gas steam reformer for hydrogen production

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to evaluate hydrogen production from natural gas using steam reforming as feedstock for use in fuel cells. The reformer is thermally simulated with the program SIMUREFGN and economically with HIDROCOS. The former introduces as condition theoretical extend of the reactions involved under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions and calculates mass flow of each component and thermodynamic functions for each thermodynamic state. The reformer's thermodynamic efficiency as a function of operative conditions evaluates its thermal feasibility and the exergetic efficiency its thermodynamic quality. The latter, HIDROCOS, calculates hydrogen generation cost, results fluctuate between 0,081 and 0,106 US$/kWh, depending on hours of operation of and on fuels used in the steam generator. The calculated energy costs for steam natural gas reforming are significantly smaller to that of other hydrogen production methods.