System and method for producing hydrogen using high temperature fuel cells

A steam methane reformer-integrated fuel cell system, comprising:

• at least one fuel cell comprising:
• an anode,
• a cathode, and
• an electrolyte matrix separating the anode and the cathode;
• an anode gas oxidizer (AGO) configured to receive anode exhaust gas from the at least one fuel cell and a preheated air stream such that the anode exhaust gas reacts with the preheated air stream to produce a high-temperature exhaust stream, and configured to provide the high-temperature exhaust stream to the cathode of the at least one fuel cell;
• and
• a steam methane reformer configured to utilize heat from the high-temperature exhaust stream output from the AGO and to react methane with steam to produce a first product stream including hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), wherein the first product stream comprises a first concentration of hydrogen;
• a water-gas shift reactor configured to react CO in the first product stream with steam to produce an outlet stream having a second concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the first concentration of hydrogen;
• an absorber column configured to reduce a concentration of CO2 in the outlet stream such that a second product stream of the absorber column has a third concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the second concentration of hydrogen;
• a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) purification system configured to purify the second product stream such that a third product stream of the PSA purification system has a fourth concentration of hydrogen that is greater than the third concentration of hydrogen;
• a stripper column connected to the absorber column;
• wherein:
• the stripper column is configured to receive a PSA tail gas from the PSA purification system and a solvent from the absorber column;
• and
• the stripper column is configured to strip CO2 from the solvent using the PSA tail gas and output a CO2-stripped solvent.