In this paper two options for H2 production, by means of natural gas, are presented and their performances are evaluated when they are integrated with advanced H2/air cycles. In this investigation two different schemes have been analyzed: an advanced combined cycle power plant (CC) and a new advanced mixed cycle power plant (AMC). The two methods for producing H2 are as follows: (1) steam methane reforming: it is the simplest and potentially the most economic method for producing hydrogen in the foreseeable future; and (2) partial oxidation of methane: it could offer an energy advantage because this method reduces the energy requirement of the reforming process. These hydrogen production plants require material and energetic integrations with power section and the best interconnections must be investigated in order to obtain good overall performance. With reference to thermodynamic and economic performance, significant comparisons have been made between the above introduced reference plants. An efficiency decrease and an increase in the cost of electricity has been obtained when power plants are equipped with a natural gas decarbonization section. The main results of the performed investigation are quite variable among the different H2 production technologies here considered: the efficiency decreases in a range of 5.5 percentage points to nearly 10 for the partial oxidation of the natural gas and in a range of about 9 percentage points to over 12 for the steam methane reforming. The electricity production cost increases in a range of about 41–42% for the first option and in a range of about 34–38% for the second one. The AMC, coupled with partial oxidation, stands out among the other power plant solutions here analyzed because it exhibits the highest net efficiency and the lowest final specific CO2 emission. In addition to this, economic impact is favorable when AMC is equipped with systems for H2 production based on partial oxidation of natural gas.

1.
Caputo
,
C.
,
Gambini
,
M.
, and
Guizzi
,
G. L.
, 1997, “
Internal Combustion Steam Cycle (G.I.ST. Cycle): Thermodynamical Feasibility and Plant Lay-Out Proposals
,” International Conference ASME ASIA 97, Singapore, ASME Paper No. 97-AA-134.
2.
Gambini
,
M.
, and
Guizzi
,
G. L.
, 1997, “
Parametric Analysis on a New Hybrid Power Plant Based on Internal Combustion Steam Cycle (GIST Cycle)
,”
Proc. of FLOWERS’97, Florence World Energy Research Symposium
, Florence, Italy, July 30–August 1, pp.
55
64
.
3.
Gambini
,
M.
,
Guizzi
,
G. L.
, and
Vellini
,
M.
, 1997, “
Calculation Model for Unconventional Components of GIST Cycles” (in Italian)
,”
Proc. of 9th National Conference “Tecnologie e Sistemi Energetici Complessi
,” Milan, Italy, June 26–27, pp.
495
509
.
4.
Steinberg
,
M.
, 1999, “
Fossil Fuel Decarbonization Technology for Mitigating Global Warming
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
0360-3199,
24
, pp.
771
777
.
5.
Kaarstad
,
O.
, and
Audus
,
H.
, 1997, “
Hydrogen and Electricity From Decarbonised Fossil Fuels
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
0196-8904,
28
, pp.
S431
S436
.
6.
Gaudernack
,
B.
, and
Lynum
,
S.
, 1998, “
Hydrogen From Natural Gas Without Release of CO2 to the Atmosphere
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
0360-3199,
23
, pp.
1087
1093
.
7.
Zhu
,
J.
,
Zhang
,
D.
, and
King
,
K. D.
, 2001, “
Reforming of CH4 by Partial Oxidation: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analyses
,”
Fuel
0016-2361,
80
, pp.
899
905
.
8.
Lozza
,
G.
, and
Chiesa
,
P.
, 2000, “
Natural Gas Decarbonization to Reduce CO2 Emission From Combined Cycles. Part B: Steam-Methane Reforming
,”
Proceedings of ASME TURBO EXPO 2000
, Munich, Germany, May 8–11, ASME Paper No. 2000-GT-0164.
9.
Lozza
,
G.
, and
Chiesa
,
P.
, 2000, “
Natural Gas Decarbonization to Reduce CO2 Emission From Combined Cycles. Part a A: Partial Oxidation
,”
Proceedings of ASME TURBO EXPO 2000
, Munich, Germany, May 8–11, ASME Paper No. 2000-GT-0163.
10.
Audus
,
H.
, and
Freund
,
P.
, 1999, “
Reduction of CO2 Emissions by Decarbonisation of Natural Gas
,”
Proceedings of Power-Gen ’99
, Messe Frankfurt, Germany, June 1–3.
11.
Freund
,
P.
, and
Thambimuthu
,
K. V.
, 1999, “
Options for Decarbonising Fossil Energy Supplies
,”
Proceedings of Combustion Canada ’99
, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, May 26–28.
12.
Gambini
,
M.
, and
Vellini
,
M.
, 2006, “
Performance Optimization of Advanced H2/Air Cycle Power Plants based on Natural Gas Partial Oxidation
,”
Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2006
, Barcelona, Spain, May 8–11, ASME Paper No. GT2006-90871.
13.
Linnhoff
,
M.
, 1998, “
Introduction to Pinch Technology
,” available from Linnhoff March Ltd, UK.
14.
Gundersen
,
T.
, 2002, “
A Process Integration PRIMER
,” SINTEF Energy Research.
15.
Hendriks
,
C. A.
,
Blok
,
K.
, and
Turkenburg
,
W. C.
, 1989, “
The Recovery of Carbon Dioxide From Power Plants
,” in
Climate and Energy
,
P. A.
Okken
,
R. J.
,
Swart
,
S.
Zwerver
, Eds,
Kluwer
, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
16.
Hendriks
,
C. A.
,
Blok
,
K.
, and
Turkenburg
,
W. C.
, 1991, “
Technology and Cost of Recovering and Storing Carbon Dioxide From an Integrated-Gasifier, Combined-Cycle Plant
,”
Energy
0360-5442,
16
(
11/12
), pp.
1277
1293
.
17.
Langeland
,
K.
, and
Wilhelmsen
,
K.
, 1993, “
A Study of the Costs and Energy Requirement for Carbon Dioxide Disposal
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
0196-8904,
34
(
9/11
), pp.
807
814
.
18.
Audus
,
H.
,
Kaarstad
,
O.
, and
Skinne
,
G.
, 1998, “
CO2 Capture by Precombustion Decarbonization of Natural Gas
,”
Proc. of 4th International Conference on Greehouse Gas Control Technologies
, Interlaken, CH, August 30–September 2.
19.
Savoldelli
,
P.
, 2000, “
Evaluation of CO2 Emission Reduction Processes by Using Fuel or Air Treatment
,” Research Report EMICO/GEN02/008, CESI (in Italian).
20.
Narula
,
R. G.
,
Wen
,
H.
, and
Himes
,
K.
, 2001, “
Economics of Greenhouse Gas Reduction—The Power Generation Technology Options
,”
Proc. of 18th Congress World Energy Council
, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 21–25.
You do not currently have access to this content.