Exploring New Production Methods of Hydrogen/Natural Gas Blends

Abstract

In this chapter, we present concepts for hydrogen production technologies that create mixtures of hydrogen with natural gas, for either the gas grid or the standalone fuel; enriched methane. In the production of hydrogen from the natural gas itself, full conversion of methane into hydrogen is no longer necessary, as it is in conventional hydrogen production technologies, because the hydrogen is to be mixed with natural gas. In this study explored the production of hydrogen/natural gas blends through steam reforming of natural gas and through thermal and plasma decomposition of methane. The production methods considered are assessed on a conceptual design level. An interesting option is the production of hydrogen/natural gas blends by an internal reforming fuel cell, whereby effective heat integration is applied and at the same time electricity is produced at high total efficiency. We also investigate potentially simplified conversion routes from biomass compared to current conversion routes that aim at the production of pure hydrogen. Two examples, supercritical gasification and a bio-technological route, illustrate the production of hydrogen/natural gas blends from biomass.