Process for the production of hydrogen
AssigneeClimeworks AG
InventorPaul O'Connor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process to convert hydrocarbons into hydrogen and a separate carbon phase, whereby in step a) the hydrocarbons are contacted with a molten salt, preferably comprising Zinc Chloride, at temperatures preferably above 500° C. and in step b) a solid or liquid carbon phase is separated from the molten salt at a lower temperature, preferably below 150° C. The molten salt is then preferably re-heated to the desired temperature and recycled to step a). The process avoids the emission of CO2, making the hydrogen produced in this way a zero CO2 emission fuel and which also produces a carbon product produced having a use value.
Claims29
A process to convert hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon feed into hydrogen and a carbon phase, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting hydrocarbons with a molten salt at a temperature T1 above 250° C., wherein the hydrocarbons are cracked to produce hydrogen, and
- b) cooling and separating the solid or liquid carbon phase from the molten salt at a temperature T2 below T1 and below 500° C.,
- wherein the amount of hydrocarbon added in step a) is between 0.1 and 50 and the amount of molten salt is between 0.1 and 50 relative to the total weight of the molten salt and hydrocarbon.
A process to convert hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon feed into hydrogen and a carbon phase, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting hydrocarbons with a molten salt at a temperature T1 above 250° C., wherein the hydrocarbons are cracked to produce hydrogen,
- b) cooling and separating the solid or liquid carbon phase from the molten salt at a temperature T2 below T1 and below 500° C., and
- c) followed by re-heating and recycling the molten salt to contacting step a),
- wherein a solid carbon source or a precursor thereof is added in step a) and/or b) as a seed to enhance the separation of the carbon phase from the molten salt phase.
A process to convert hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon feed into hydrogen and a carbon phase, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting hydrocarbons with a molten salt at a temperature T1 above 250° C. wherein the hydrocarbons are cracked to produce hydrogen, and
- b) cooling and separating the solid or liquid carbon phase from the molten salt at a temperature T2 below T1 and below 500° C.,
- wherein the amount of hydrocarbon added in step a) is between 0.1 and 50 and the amount of molten salt is between 0.1 and 50 relative to the total weight of the molten salt and hydrocarbon,
- further comprising a process step wherein the hydrogen produced is reacted with CO2 captured from air and/or flue gas to produce a hydrocarbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.