A procedure for design of hydrogen networks with multiple contaminants

It is necessary to reduce hydrogen consumption to meet increasingly strict environmental and product-quality regulations for refinery plants. In this paper, the concentration potential concepts proposed for design of water-using networks are extended to synthesis of hydrogen networks with multiple contaminants. In the design procedure, the precedence of processes is determined by the values of concentration potential of demands. The usage of complementary source pair(s) to reduce utility consumption is investigated. Three case studies are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the method. It is shown that the design procedure has clear engineering meaning.

Graphical AbstractThe synthesis of hydrogen network is to identify the optimal design of hydrogen network. In the design procedure, hydrogen streams should be reused as much as possible to reduce utility consumption. The design procedure is proposed as follows: identify the precedence of the processes and satisfy the demand identified by the sources. The figure shows that hydrogen plant can provide pure hydrogen (or high quality hydrogen) for the consumers. The outlet streams of some hydrogen consumers may be reused by other hydrogen consumers. This will reduce the utility consumption.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide