Hydrogen Recovery from Waste Gas Streams to Feed (High-Temperature PEM) Fuel Cells: Environmental Performance under a Life-Cycle Thinking Approach

Abstract

Fossil fuels are being progressively substituted by a cleaner and more environmentally friendly form of energy, where hydrogen fuel cells stand out. However, the implementation of a competitive hydrogen economy still presents several challenges related to economic costs, required infrastructures, and environmental performance. In this context, the objective of this work is to determine the environmental performance of the recovery of hydrogen from industrial waste gas streams to feed high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells for stationary applications. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) analyzed alternative scenarios with different process configurations, considering as functional unit 1 kg of hydrogen produced, 1 kWh of energy obtained, and 1 kg of inlet flow. The results make the recovery of hydrogen from waste streams environmentally preferable over alternative processes like methane reforming or coal gasification. The production of the fuel cell device resulted in high contributions in the abiotic depletion potential and acidification potential, mainly due to the presence of platinum metal in the anode and cathode. The design and operation conditions that defined a more favorable scenario are the availability of a pressurized waste gas stream, the use of photovoltaic electricity, and the implementation of an energy recovery system for the residual methane stream.

Hydrogen Recovery from Coke Oven Gas. Comparative Analysis of Technical Alternatives

“…Moreover, the recovery of hydrogen from COG has been compared to alternative hydrogen production routes in recent studies. 184,185 The global warming potential of hydrogen production from COG is in the range of natural gas reforming (10−13 kg CO 2-eq kg H 2 −1…”

“…As can be seen in Table , the environmental performance of hydrogen purification stands out compared to the cogeneration of heat and electricity, which is currently the most economic option since the low energy consumption. Moreover, the recovery of hydrogen from COG has been compared to alternative hydrogen production routes in recent studies. , The global warming potential of hydrogen production from COG is in the range of natural gas reforming (10–13 kg CO 2‑eq kg H 2 –1 ) and only decreased by water electrolysis with renewable energy sources. Although the recovery of hydrogen from COG must face economic drawbacks, the growth of hydrogen economy together with the environmental performance could position this alternative at the head of valorization techniques of COG in the midterm.…”

Past, Present and Future of Membrane Technology in Spain

“…The size growth of the research groups on membrane science and development has led to the subdivision of the former departments into subgroups specialized in a certain approach of membrane research and the type of publications and journals their members divulgate their results on, belonging to a wide range of applications and membrane materials and module fabrication methods. See, for instance in the directory, the IEC and PROMETEO groups of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, distinguish themselves between electrochemical applications and membrane processes for water treatment [62][63][64], the subgroups of the GIQA group at Rey Juan Carlos University, one devoted to polymeric membranes for wastewater treatment, the other on inorganic membranes for gas separation [65][66][67], or the division of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Cantabria into four subgroups covering almost all the membrane topics [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76]. Likewise, the CREG group at the University of Zaragoza has been divided by the results obtained in the later years in two subgroups, one devoted to membrane reactors and inorganic membranes, and the other on the synthesis and characterization of mixed matrix membranes for molecular separations [77][78][79], while the consolidation of membranes in health issues such as bone regeneration, grows in groups similar to that from the University of Seville here [80][81][82].…”

Exploring the Potential Application of Matrimid® and ZIFs-Based Membranes for Hydrogen Recovery: A Review

“…According to the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH), formed by 17 companies and organizations, 2250 terawatt hours (TWh) of hydrogen could be generated in Europe in 2050 (one quarter of the EU’s total energy demand), causing a positive impact on CO 2 emissions—a reduction of 560 Mt. This scenario implies the necessity of increasing hydrogen availability from primary and secondary resources, which depend on the regional availability of coal, natural gas, biomass, nuclear, solar, wind and electricity using electrolyzers, and at the same time calls for the recovery of hydrogen lost in industrial waste gas streams [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The major hydrogen-rich off gas streams include captive industries related to ammonia and methanol manufacture; oil refining; and by-product industries, e.g., petrochemical, steel-making and chloro-alkali industries [ 12 , 13 ].…”