Integrative Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Analysis for Ethane Steam Reforming in a Membrane Reactor for H-2 Production

Abstract

Integrative technoeconomic analysis (iTEA) with process simulation and economic analysis and integrative carbon footprint analysis (iCFA) of ethane steam reforming (ESR) for H-2 production in a membrane reactor (MR) was carried out to identify its technical, economic, and environmental feasibility in Korea. From process simulation, process conditions were set to perform economic analysis through itemized cost estimation, sensitivity analysis, and probability analysis using a Monte-Carlo simulation method. The respective H-2 production costs of 3.678 and 2.926$ kgH(2)(-1) were obtained in a conventional reactor and an MR and main economic items of reactant and labor were confirmed using sensitivity analysis. A H-2 selling price of 4.091$ kgH(2)(-1), assuming an onsite H-2 refueling station using proposed ESR, was obtained, which can be compared with the current and future H-2 selling prices from H-2 refueling stations, the United States Department of Energy, and the projected H-2 selling prices based on Hydrogen Roadmap from the Korean government. In addition, cumulative probability curves and frequency graphs for H-2 selling price by varying main economic items were created to show the uncertainty of the proposed ESR through probability analysis. Moreover, the reduction in the CO2 emission rate of about 13.3% was obtained in an MR through the CO2 flow diagram of iCFA.