Membrane reactors for green hydrogen production from biogas and biomethane:A techno-economic assessment

This work investigates the performance of a fluidized-bed membrane reactor for pure hydrogen production. A techno-economic assessment of a plant with the production capacity of 100 kgH2/day was carried out, evaluating the optimum design of the system in terms of reactor size (diameter and number of membranes) and operating pressures. Starting from a biomass source, hydrogen production through autothermal reforming of two different feedstock, biogas and biomethane, is compared. Results in terms of efficiency indicates that biomethane outperforms biogas as feedstock for the system, both from the reactor (97.4% vs 97.0%) and the overall system efficiency (63.7% vs 62.7%) point of views. Nevertheless, looking at the final LCOH, the additional cost of biomethane leads to a higher cost of the hydrogen produced (4.62 €/kgH2@20 bar vs 4.39 €/kgH2@20 bar), indicating that at the current price biogas is the more convenient choice.</p

Foreign language effect in decision-making: How foreign is it?

It has been shown that decisions and moral judgments differ when made using native languages compared to foreign languages. Cross-linguistic differences appeared in foreign languages that monolinguals typically ac- quired in school and used neither routinely nor extensively. We replicated these differences with two popula- tions of proficient, native bilinguals (Italian-Venetian; Italian-Bergamasque). Venetian and Bergamasque are spoken in households and informal circles, unlike Italian, which is also used in more formal contexts. The findings reported in foreign languages for the Asian Disease Problem and the Footbridge Dilemma were re- produced in Venetian and Bergamasque. Our results show that language effects on decision-making and moral judgments are not restricted to foreign languages. The explanation proposed for foreign languages of cross- linguistic differences in emotion responses does not apply to our proficient, native bilinguals, who showed emotion responses of equal intensity in their languages. We propose that the contexts in which bilinguals use a language \u2013 either native, regional or foreign \u2013 could affect decisions

Non-thermal plasma-assisted capture and conversion of CO2

CO2 capture and conversion have been considered as a promising solution to global warming and the storage of renewable energy. However, it is a challenge to develop a process which combines capture with conversion under mild reaction conditions and instantly respond to the intermittent power supply. In this research, plasma-based CO2 capture and splitting have been investigated by using the plasma generated in a DBD reactor packed with hydrotalcite as the solid sorbent. Results indicated that plasma is capable of desorbing CO2 from the hydrotalcite surface and this desorption starts instantly after the ignition of plasma. It was also observed that the desorption stoped when the plasma was turned off, indicating the possibility for instant control of the process. CO was produced during the plasma treatment and the average conversion of CO2 during the detectable CO production period is 41.14%. Based on the technological advantages it can provide, the discussion has been made on the potential application as syngas production within the framework of “power to gas/liquid”, and CO2 emission reduction from power plants

Optimization of small-scale hydrogen production with membrane reactors

By means of the modelling activity, a tool to support the design stage of the reactor prototype within MACBETH project has been developed. Some guidelines for the design of FBMRs are hence provided, thanks to a wide investigation of the effect of different design parameters and operating conditions. The tool will also allow to investigate further potentialities for industrial scale-up of the technology

Techno-Economical Assessment for Combined Production of Hydrogen, Heat, and Power from Residual Lignocellulosic Agricultural Biomass in Huesca Province (Spain)

Nowadays, great emphasis is rightly given in the scientific community to hydrogen production from electrolysis. However, to achieve the politically stated target ambitions, all low-carbon sources for hydrogen production must be considered. The present work proposes a local production system of negative carbon hydrogen from lignocellulosic residual biomass using gasification and gas separation through H2-selective membranes as enabling technologies. The feedstock is pruning. In addition, the system produces heat and power for a Renewable Energy Community (REC) to increase the economic feasibility of hydrogen production via their sale. A modular basic plant is sized, based on a simplified system envisaged for RECs under the current regulatory framework in Spain (electrical renewable output of 100 kW). A network of these modular basic plants in the province of Huesca (Aragón) is simulated to create a system of hydrogen refueling stations for mobility in that area. A Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) is proposed, comprehending the whole production chain from “field to tank”, which is significant in areas where there is no infrastructure for the production and distribution of hydrogen for automotive purposes. The resulting LCOH for the whole system is 8.90 EUR/kg. Sensitivity analysis potentially values a lower LCOH, which unveils that hydrogen mobility can be largely competitive with diesel one