Generation of Hydrogen Fuels for A Thermal Power Plant with Integrated CO 2 -Capture Using A CaO-CaCO 3 Cycle

This chapter discusses the conversion of natural gas and other light hydrocarbons via steam reforming for hydrogen production. A new integrated reforming reaction for hydrogen production is simulated. Hydrogen gas is produced from natural gas and water in a modified reforming reaction where CO 2 reacts with a metal oxide to form a metal carbonate. The carbonate is decomposed thermally in a separate reaction and the metal oxide is recycled back to the reformer. This provides an efficient means of separation of the carbon dioxide from the reformer. The exothermic carbonation reaction provides most of the energy necessary to drive the hydrogen-producing reaction to completion. The CO 2 removal process has been designed and simulated to test the generation of hydrogen fuels for a thermal power plant. Although, the concept originally was intended for integration with processes with high-temperature waste heat, the thermodynamic analysis shows that the process can be used for hydrogen production for a combined cycle power plant and steam boilers as well.