Sorption-enhanced water gas shift reaction using multi-section column for high-purity hydrogen production

Simultaneous execution of the water gas shift (WGS) reaction and CO2 separation in the sorption-enhanced water gas shift (SE-WGS) reaction has emerged as a method of enhancing hydrogen production. Herein, a multi-section column was proposed and applied as a new concept for enhancing the efficiency of the SE-WGS reaction. Conventional SE-WGS utilizes a single-section column in which the catalyst and sorbent are packed throughout the column at the same ratio, whereas in the proposed system, the column is divided into multiple sections, and the ratio of catalyst and sorbent are varied in each section. CO conversion and H2 productivity in the two-section column SE-WGS reaction were investigated based on numerical simulations employing various ratios of catalyst and sorbent in each section of the column. The CO conversion and H2 productivity could be maximized in the novel two-section SE-WGS reaction by increasing the catalyst content of the first section and the sorbent content of the second section.

► A novel multi-section column concept was applied to the SE-WGS reaction.
► The performance of SE-WGS reaction could be improved using multi-section column.
► Increasing the catalyst content of the first section could enhance the performance.
►  Increasing the sorbent content of the second section could enhance the performance.