Kværner method

The Kvaerner process is one in the 1980 's by the same Norwegian company Kvaerner ASA developed method of producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons (C _n H _m ), such as methane , natural gas , biogas or heavy oil .

Description of the procedure

The hydrocarbons are separated into activated carbon (pure carbon ) and hydrogen in a plasma torch (compare plasma , electric arc ) at around 1600 ° C.

Reaction equation: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {C_{n}H_{m}+Energie\rightarrow nC+{\frac {m}{2}}H_{2}} }$

A major ecological advantage over all other known reforming methods ( steam reformer , partial oxidation, etc.) is that pure carbon is produced instead of carbon dioxide .

The high energy content of the reaction products and the high temperature of the superheated steam that is also produced results in an efficiency of almost 100%, provided that all reaction products, including the superheated steam, continue to be used. Around 48% is accounted for by hydrogen, around 40% for activated carbon and 10% for superheated steam.

A pilot plant in Canada from 1992, for example, uses 1000 standard cubic meters of natural gas (approx. 9940  kWh ) and 2100 kWh of electrical energy to produce around 2000 standard cubic meters of hydrogen (corresponds to approx. 5880 kWh) and 500 kg of activated carbon (corresponds to approx. 4600 kWh) as well as superheated steam with a Energy of around 1000 kWh, which results in an efficiency of well over 90%.

Web links

• Kværner method

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Christopher Müller-Braun: Commissioning of a test facility and experimental investigation for the catalytic dehydrogenation of selected components of kerosene for hydrogen production in aircraft. German Aerospace Center , July 2012, accessed on September 16, 2019 (Chapter 1.2.5). 
2. ↑ ^{a b} RECCS study. (PDF; 1.09 MB) Chapters 4–8. Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy , 2008, accessed on September 16, 2019 (Chapter 5.2.4 "CO ₂ -free concepts for H ₂ generation"). 
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Fuel Cell Technologies and Hydrogen Production / Distribution Options. German Aerospace Center , September 2, 2005, accessed on September 16, 2019 (English, Chapter 3.2.4: "Pyrolysis"). 
4. ^ Bent Sørensen : Renewable Energy . 5th edition. Academic Press , Elsevier , 2017, ISBN 978-0-12-804567-1 , chap. 5.5.8 Hydrogen production (English, Chapter 5.5.8 online ).
5. ↑ Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (2005): Jan Rössler, Sven Messerer: Production of Hydrogen, p. 8 ( Memento from November 1, 2012 in the Internet Archive )