Hydrogen is playing a pivotal role in the energy transformation towards a low carbon economy. In the long run, most of the hydrogen will likely be produced by electrolysis powered by renewable electricity. Given the present lack of both, abundant electricity and electrolysis capacity, industry will depend on hydrogen from fossil sources including carbon capture and storage for the decades to come. Hydrogen production from fossil, as applied in oil & gas downstream, (petro-) chemical, steel, and other industries, offers a huge potential to capture CO₂ emissions and thus produce almost carbon neutral blue hydrogen. This presentation focuses on the decarbonization of large-scale hydrogen plants for which autothermal reforming (ATR) and partial oxidation (POX) technologies are increasingly preferred. Here, all CO2 emissions are present at high pressure and/or concentration levels, providing significant opportunities for low-cost CO2 capture. In addition, reduction of the carbon footprint for Steam-Methane-Reformers (SMRs) will be highlighted in this talk.
The Linde solution HISORP® CC is the optimal technology to minimize the carbon footprint of hydrogen production plants (both for new-built and retrofit). It combines proven technologies as pressure-swing-adsorption (PSA), cryogenic purification, dryer, and compressor units. HISORP® CC can serve customers with all relevant industrial CO2 capture applications due to flexibility in
- CO2 feed concentrations and flows,
- states of CO2 product (gaseous, liquid, or supercritical), and
- CO2 export purities (from low purity for EOR to high purity or food grade quality).
The HISORP® CC setup can be tailored to the specific requirements of the source and the CO2 product. For new-built hydrogen production plants based on ATR or POX, HISORP® CC will be placed downstream of the hydrogen PSA leading to superior CO2 capture rates of >99%.
In sum, the main advantages of HISORP® CC are:
- Electrically driven carbon capturing technology – usage of 100% renewable power is possible
- High adaptability with multiple, strong references of each individual compartments (packaged units) joint in HISORP® CC leading to an extremely high reliability and stability of process due to application of proven technologies
- Maximum availability of hydrogen production due to CO2 capturing downstream of H2 PSA
- Achieves lowest hydrogen carbon intensity with option of additional hydrogen by adding Linde’s HISELECT® powered by Evonik membranes or a Linde HIPURE™ PSA.
- Optimal low CAPEX and OPEX compared to other carbon capture technologies
- No steam required for regeneration of solvent (e.g., MDEA) - no extension of CO2 footprint
- No additional efforts for solvent make-up, handling, and decomposition waste treatment
In addition, HISORP® CC can help to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries and flue gas sources, such as SMR flue gas, iron & steel, non-ferrous metals, cement & lime production, or power plants (gas and coal).