New cooperation on next-generation hydrogen production

ECN has been asked by Technip KTI SpA to deliver a hydrogen purification module for the FISR-project. This project represents an opportunity to demonstrate the use of high-temperature membranes for hydrogen production for the petrochemical industry. ECN?s approach to economic competitiveness of the technology is to use extremely thin palladium layers of a few microns.

The project will specifically demonstrate the combination reforming of natural gas with high-temperature separation of hydrogen by membrane technology. The cooperation will result in a 20 Nm3/h pilot hydrogen plant. Although the technology has been demonstrated on lab-scale, this project represents a significant step from the laboratory to its application in industry.

3D illustration of 20 Nm3/h pilot hydrogen plant with the ECN hydrogen purification module.
The pilot hydrogen plant is designed by Technip KTI Spa.

Savings
Project manager Yvonne van Delft on the importance of the technology, which is demonstrated here: ?The use of hydrogen in refineries rises due to the need for cleaner fuels for cars, less sulphur in fuels and efficient conversion of oil by converting heavy fractions with hydrogen to diesel and gasoline. Furthermore hydrogen is seen as an important source for large scale electricity production with CO2 capture and as future fuel for cars.

The (petro) chemical industry in the Netherlands is responsible for one sixth of the total energy use. A substantial part is used to produce industrial hydrogen. This takes place in huge reformer units where methane reacts with steam to become hydrogen and carbon monoxide. When using membranes, the reaction temperature can be decreased to 550?C to 650?C to produce hydrogen. This gives already a significant reduction in energy consumption. Furthermore several process steps can be omitted, resulting in lower production costs.

This project is unique because this is one of the first pilot plants in which hydrogen purification membranes are demonstrated on a larger scale. Much research in this field is conducted, but only on small scale in laboratories. This is the first time the technology is demonstrated outside a laboratory, at process conditions. When results are successful, this technology can be used in refineries within five years time.?

Company information
Technip KTI is an international process engineering company, with over 35 years experience in designing and implementing plants for the chemical, petrochemical and refining industries. In the FISR-project funded by MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research) seven Italian chemical engineering institutes co-operate with TECHNIP KTI on the development of an innovative process for the production of hydrogen for refineries.

ECN (the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands) is a non-profit organization developing and bringing to the market high-level knowledge and technology for a sustainable energy supply. ECN develops palladium (Pd) alloy composite membranes for hydrogen separation from reformate, and has acquired a worldwide position in the field of membrane reactors based on inorganic membranes.

Information:
More information on membrane technology is available at the ECN website.

Contact:
Yvonne van Delft
ECN Energy-Efficiency in Industry
Tel. (+31) 224 568178
vandelft@remove-this-part-ecn.nl