System and method for producing hydrogen

A system for producing hydrogen, the system comprising:

• a pyrolysis reactor arranged to receive a gas, introduce glycerine into the gas, and generate a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine;
• and
• a first heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor, and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow, and wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas;
• wherein said system further comprises a separator arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit and separate hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product;
• and wherein the system is arranged to reintroduce the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis reactor.

A system for producing hydrogen, the system comprising:

• a pyrolysis reactor arranged to receive a gas, introduce glycerine into the gas, and generate a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine;
• a first heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor, and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow, and wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas;
• a water gas shift reactor arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit and transform carbon monoxide in the pyrolysis product into carbon dioxide and hydrogen;
• said system further comprising a second heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow from the water gas shift reactor, and wherein the second heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas;
• said system further comprising a separator arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the water gas shift reactor and separate hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product, and wherein the system is arranged to reintroduce the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis reactor.

A method for producing hydrogen, the method comprising:

• flowing a gas through a first heat transfer unit and into a pyrolysis reactor, wherein said gas comprises a carrier gas suitable for carrying glycerine;
• introducing glycerine into the gas in the pyrolysis reactor;
• generating, in the pyrolysis reactor, a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine;
• flowing the pyrolysis product through the first heat transfer unit,
• wherein in the first heat transfer unit, heat is transferred from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor;
• flowing the pyrolysis product to a separator, said separator being arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit;
• separating hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product;
• and
• reintroducing the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis product.