In this paper, a novel multifunctional energy system (MES) fueled by natural gas and solar radiation is proposed. In this MES, hydrogen and electricity are cogenerated and approximately 92% of CO2 derived from natural gas is removed. The solar concentrated process provides high-temperature thermal energy to the methane/steam reforming reaction. The resulting syngas enters a pressure swing adsorption unit to separate approximately 80% of hydrogen. This process significantly increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in syngas from nearly 19% to 49%, which decreases energy consumption in CO2 removal. As a result, the overall power efficiency of the new system becomes about 39.2%. Compared to a conventional natural gas-based hydrogen plant with CO2 removal and a concentrated solar power tower plant, the overall power efficiency of the new system is increased by 7.9 percentage points. Based on the graphical exergy analysis, the integration of synthetic utilization of natural gas and solar radiation, combination of the hydrogen production plant and power plant, and integration of the energy utilization processes and CO2 separation were found to play significant roles to improve thermodynamic performance. The result obtained here provides a new approach for highly efficient use of solar radiation by hybrid natural gas.
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e-mail: hanwei@mail.etp.ac.cn
e-mail: hgjin@mail.etp.ac.cn
e-mail: lrm@mail.etp.ac.cn
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November 2011
Research Papers
A Novel Multifunctional Energy System for CO2 Removal by Solar Reforming of Natural Gas
Wei Han,
e-mail: hanwei@mail.etp.ac.cn
Wei Han
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
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Hongguang Jin,
e-mail: hgjin@mail.etp.ac.cn
Hongguang Jin
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
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Rumou Lin
e-mail: lrm@mail.etp.ac.cn
Rumou Lin
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Wei Han
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
e-mail: hanwei@mail.etp.ac.cn
Hongguang Jin
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
e-mail: hgjin@mail.etp.ac.cn
Rumou Lin
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Beijing 100190, China
e-mail: lrm@mail.etp.ac.cn
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2011, 133(4): 041004 (8 pages)
Published Online: September 21, 2011
Article history
Received:
September 13, 2010
Revised:
April 7, 2011
Online:
September 21, 2011
Published:
September 21, 2011
Citation
Han, W., Jin, H., and Lin, R. (September 21, 2011). "A Novel Multifunctional Energy System for CO2 Removal by Solar Reforming of Natural Gas." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2011; 133(4): 041004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004034
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