Hydrogen Production from Renewable Source: Biogas

Abstract

Energy systems of the future will need to be cleaner, more reliable, much efficient and sustainable. Hydrogen looks a promising energy carrier and considered to be one of the best candidates for replacing fossil fuels. But hydrogen is not an elemental form (H<inf>2</inf>), it is found in nature only as part of other compounds such as natural gas, petroleum and coal, and can be produced generally by steam reforming. Splitting of water by electrolyses is also used a hydrogen production method. Except water splitting which is an expensive method, fossil fuels are not renewable sources. In this study hydrogen has produced by steam reforming, which is the least expensive method, of biogas which is a renewable source. Nickel was plated on aluminium oxide and pumice supports by electroless coating method. A preheating system in which water was vaporized and mixed with gas was used prior to fixed bed catalytic reforming reactor. The reactor in which heat flows from centre to the shell radially was specially designed in order to reduce energy consumption. Conversion of methane to hydrogen was investigated at different methane to carbon dioxide ratios and temperatures. Hydrogen yields were increased by increasing temperature from 300 to 800 °C and decreasing CO<inf>2</inf> contents. A 35% of methane conversion to hydrogen was obtained at 680 °C and at 60% CH<inf>4</inf> plus 40% CO<inf>2</inf> which is the general biogas content. © 2013 IEEE.