Hydrogen Production by Steam Reforming Using Biomass

The objective for hydrogen as a future energy carrier should be to produce it without emitting additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A very effective process for hydrogen generation based on allotherm steam reforming using energy from biomass is developed and tested in a pilot facility. Excess chemical energy from the process is used to generate superheated steam (>1,200 degrees C). Steam is the gasification and oxidation agent, energy carrier for the process and supplier of hydrogen molecules, as it reacts with biochar at the bottom of the reactor. The produced synthesis gas has up to 61% of hydrogen. The handling of tars is much easier than in other systems due to the presence of excess steam. A demonstration facility has been designed with an overall efficiency of up to 70%, scaling up the pilot facility. Only waste biomass unsuitable for further usage is utilised, and the conversion rate of biomass to hydrogen is 10:1.