H₂ Case demonstration – Demo Plant in France
- 26/02/2024
To improve the production of pure H₂ from biogas or natural gas, MACBETH is developing, building and demonstrating a novel reactor concept integrating H₂ separation insitu during the reforming reaction in a single vessel under industrially relevant conditions.
In the framework of the ATR demonstration line for H₂ production from biogas, Tecnalia has scaledup the membrane production up to 125 palladiumbaseddouble-skinmembranes onto a ceramic support developed by the partner RKV. These sealed membranes will be integrated into the pilot currently building by the partner ICI Caldaie. ICI Caldaie is now finalizing the assembly of the ATR pilot. The Factory Acceptance Tests are forecasted to be organized in the Q1/2024. In parallel, the BioValo Methelec Biogas Plant located in Ennezat (France) has begun preparation works, coordinated by Engie, to be able to receive and connect the ATR pilot or demonstration.
The project aims to deliver the pilot at the end of the Q1 of 2024 and to initiate the commissioning and realize long term demonstration test campaign until October 2024, which is the end of Macbeth project with the objective to produce around 100 kg of hydrogen per day.
Preparation works include the installation of an additional desulfurization unit to avoid the inlet of sulfur into the reactor, as palladium membranes are highly sensitive to sulfur compounds.
During the demonstration, the ATR pilot will be feed by strongly desulfurized raw biogas, which will used for the reaction to produce hydrogen onsite and by the boiler which produce the required heat for the reaction.
With the Catalytic Membrane Reactor developed in the framework of Macbeth Project, biogas is converted into H₂ at a much lower temperature compared with a conventional system, resulting in an increased of the overall process efficiency and a significant decrease in volumes and auxiliary heat management units.
The system’s performance was in parallel investigated through a modelling work. The results showed an efficiency of the plant implementing the innovative MR of about 61%, about 17% higher than the benchmark technology. The direct CO₂ emissions and the cost of H₂ are about 28% and 30% lower, respectively than the benchmark technology.
