A multicriteria approach for evaluating high temperature hydrogen production processes

Abstract

Hydrogen demand has already significantly increased due to the industry needs. Mature technologies based on fossil fuels are not satisfactory due to greenhouse gas concerns. In response, a range of advanced processes are being developed throughout the world.Within the 'International Energy Agency -Hydrogen Implementing Agreement -Task 25', a multicriteria methodology was developed for the evaluation of high temperature hydrogen production processes. The aim is to guide R&D strategy by highlighting to which extent the processes may appear promising. The method that was developed is based on the elimination and choice translating the reality (ELECTRE). This study has conducted a first pass application to hydrogen production and highlights the importance of significant weightings and discriminating criteria.Decision makers can apply this method to extract their own subset of processes from the alternatives, according to their system of values defined through the selection of criteria and the associated weights.

Novel process concept for the production of H2 and H2SO4 by SO2-depolarized electrolysis

“…On the way to the Fig. 6 Comparison of normalized hydrogen costs, process efficiency, maturity, maximal process temperature and environmental threat for major hydrogen production cycles based on data of Galzim et al (2011). All the parameters here are normalized by the range (0-minimum, 1-maximum) hydrogen energy society, the Outotec open-cycle would offer a valuable option for hydrogen production, without the need of technical solutions, which do not yet exist.…”

“…A comparison of the new cycle with other thermochemical and combined processes using expert evaluation method (Galzim et al 2011) shows that it has a substantial costs reduction with an excellent trade-off with efficiency, process maturity and environmental threats, Fig. 6, whether other processes use nuclear (Nucl), solar (Sol) or geothermal (Geo) heat inputs.…”

“…6, whether other processes use nuclear (Nucl), solar (Sol) or geothermal (Geo) heat inputs. Here, new Outotec OC process is compared with HyS cycle, alkaline electrolysis (AE), sulfur-iodine cycle (IS), high-temperature electrolysis (HTE), zinc oxide Novel process concept 537 (ZnO), cadmium oxide (CdO) and iron oxide (FeOx) options (Galzim et al 2011). It is seen that sulfur-iodine cycle has prohibitive costs versus other methods, CdO cycle has too high environmental risks and together with ZnO and FeOx has too high processing temperature requiring special material solutions.…”

“…The Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative of the US DoE has identified the HyS cycle together with the sulfur-iodine cycle (IS) as the first priority cycles for hydrogen production (Gorensek and Summers 2009). According to the analysis of these two processes carried out within the International Energy Agency (IEA) Hydrogen Implementing Agreement (HIA) Task 25 (High Temperature Production of Hydrogen), the HyS is the more favorable one (Galzim et al 2011).…”

Modeling and experimental assessment of Nafion membrane properties used in SO2 depolarized water electrolysis for hydrogen production

“…Different chemical and thermochemical routes have been investigated for this purpose and the best options have been identified e for example, the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative of the US DoE identified the hybrid sulfur process (HyS) cycle together with the sulfureiodine cycle (IS) as the first priority ones for hydrogen production [1]. According to the recent analysis of these two processes carried out within the IEA HIA Task 25, the HyS is the more favourable one [2], despite of some challenges in the high-temperature section of the sulfuric acid concentration and decomposition and some constrains in sulfur dioxide depolarized electrolyzer (SDE) operations. For the short-to medium-term application, a new Outotec Ò open cycle process is an attractive alternative for hydrogen production, as it involves only one stage (SDE) and does not require sulfuric acid decomposition [3].…”