Simulation of intensified process of sorption enhanced chemical-looping reforming of methane: Comparison with conventional processes

Intensified process of sorption enhanced chemical-looping reforming (SECLR) for hydrogen production was studied. This process was modified by recycling a portion of solid NiO and CaO from air reactor (AR) to reforming reactor (RR) and employing the exhaust CO2 as sweep gas at the calcination reactor (CR) under energy self-sufficient operation. By comparing the process performances among SECLR, conventional steam reforming (SR) and sorption enhanced steam reforming (SESR) at their optimum conditions, the intensified SECLR under adiabatic operation showed the best performance with hydrogen productivity of 3.95 kmol/h, CH4 conversion of 98% and H2 purity of 98.37%. Additionally, the optimized SECLR process operated adiabatically required the solid ratio from CR to AR of 0.945 and solid ratio from AR to RR of 0.008, leading to the minimum of heat requirement. Furthermore, the influence of CO2 content in feed stream on adiabatic operation of the SECLR process was investigated.