Publication Date:
2019
Description:
Fermentative hydrogen production from molasses—a renewable by-product of beet-sugar processing—was considered. Technical and economic evaluations were performed of a stand-alone production plant employing a two-step fermentation process (dark thermophilic fermentation and photofermentation) followed by an adsorption-based upgrading of the produced hydrogen gas. Using a state-of-the-art knowledge base and a mathematical model composed of mass and energy balances, as well as economic relationships, the process was simulated and equipment data were estimated, the hydrogen cost was calculated and a sensibility analysis was carried out. Due to high capital, operating and labor costs, hydrogen production cost was estimated at a rather high level of 32.68 EUR/kg, while the energy output in produced hydrogen was determined as 68% more than the combined input of the thermal and electric energy needed for plant operation. As the room for improvement of plant performance is limited, a perspective on the cost competitiveness of large-scale hydrogen production from fossil sources is unclear.
Electronic ISSN:
1996-1073
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
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