Analysis of the Relation between Coupled Sink and Purification Based on Hydrogen Network Integration

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2018-05, Vol.41 (5), p.1003-1012
• Main Authors: Huang, Lingjun, Li, Wei, Mao, Jinbing, Liu, Guilian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coupled sink; Design optimization; Hydrogen; Hydrogen efficiency; Hydrogen network; Mathematical analysis; Process system; Purification; Reactors
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201700130

In a hydrogen network, sinks and sources are generally connected to reactors or purifiers, which affect their compositions and flow rates. The relationship between these streams is studied based on the integration of the hydrogen network to identify the feasible and optimal operating conditions of reactors and purifiers. Equations are deduced to describe the quantitative relationship between hydrogen consumption, hydrogen concentration, flow rates of coupled sink and source, purification feed, and purified product. The purification and hydrogen‐consuming reactor parameters can be optimized in the design and operation stage of a hydrogen network. The case study proves that the proposed method is simple, easy to understand, and can be applied to identify the variation trend line and feasible region accurately without tedious calculation. In hydrogen networks, compositions and flow rates of sinks and sources are influenced by the equipment. The relationship between these streams is evaluated based on hydrogen network integration to identify optimal operating conditions of reactors and purifiers. A simple graphical method can be applied to detect the variation trend line and feasible region accurately without tedious calculation.