The determination of thermodynamic equilibrium within a specific reactor was achieved through the utilization of either the equilibrium constant or the minimization of Gibbs free energy. In the case of methane reforming, the presence of solid carbon as a by-product poses a challenge when using the equilibrium constant approach. This study employed the method of minimizing Gibbs free energy, employing ASPEN Plus, to facilitate the calculation process. This software enables the accurate determination of thermodynamic equilibrium in the given system.
This project was focused on the industrial implementation of hydrogen production from biogas in France. Steam reforming of methane (SRM) was used at the industrial level. Given the energy-intensive nature of SRM, a thorough analysis of these pathways for biogas-based hydrogen production was crucial for process optimization. The H2-TRM0 process, which utilized the TRM technique with 30% partial tail gas recycling, emerged as the most favorable option. It demonstrated the highest hydrogen production rate and the best energy yield. Notably, the H2-TRM0 process was found to be more efficient than the existing industrial process (H2-REF), which relies on the SRM technique.
