HEAT INTEGRATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM GLYCEROL REFORMING

Glycerol is a major by-product of bio-diesel, making up at least 10% of the biodiesel produced. In a world concerned about sustainability and recycling, this project aimed to find an alternative, cost-effective source of energy (hydrogen) from glycerol, a waste product of bio-diesel, via the reforming process. This study examined the use of the ?Pinch technology? as a technique in conserving energy in the glycerol reforming process for hydrogen production. The pinch analysis was carried out on two methods of reforming namely: Aqueous phase reforming (APR) and Steam reforming (SR). The results obtained showed that the unit production cost of H2 (in $/kmol), before and after integration for APR are 31.68 and 31.56 consecutively and for SR- 48.7 and 52.99 consecutively. Energy recovered from APR and SR are 29, 820kW (86%) and 37,400kW (69%) respectively. These energy savings made, reduced the operating cost by 92% for APR and 75% for SR but an increased capital cost was incurred as a result of the additional heat exchangers that were required to achieve recovery. In this study, APR was found to be a more cost-effective and energy saving method (in both the non-integrated and integrated case), which makes it very ideal in our energy-dependent world, because it is carried out in liquid phase and at low or slightly elevated temperature.