In this paper, we have proposed a novel coal-based hydrogen production system with low $CO2$ emission. In this novel system, a pressure swing adsorption $H2$ production process and a $CO2$ cryogenic capture process are well integrated to gain comprehensive performance. In particular, through sequential connection between the pressure swing absorption (PSA) $H2$ production process and the $CO2$ capture unit, the $CO2$ concentration of PSA purge gas that enters the $CO2$ capture unit can reach as high as 70%, which results in as much as 90% of $CO2$ to be separated from mixed gas as liquid at a temperature of $−55°C$. This will reduce the quantity and quality of cold energy required for cryogenic separation method, and the solidification of $CO2$ is avoided. The adoption of cryogenic energy to capture $CO2$ enables direct production of liquid $CO2$ at low pressure and thereby saves a lot of compression energy. Besides, partial recycle of the tail gas from $CO2$ recovery unit to PSA inlet can help enhance the amount of hydrogen product and lower the energy consumption for $H2$ production. As a result, the energy consumption for the new system’s hydrogen production is only $196.8 GJ/tH2$ with 94% of $CO2$ captured, which is 9.2% lower than that of the coal-based hydrogen production system with Selexol $CO2$ removal process and is only 2.6% more than that of the coal-based hydrogen production system without $CO2$ recovery. More so, the energy consumption of $CO2$ recovery is expected to be reduced by 20–60% compared with that of traditional $CO2$ separation processes. Further analysis on the novel system indicates that synergetic integration of the $H2$ production process and cryogenic $CO2$ recovery unit, along with the synthetic utilization of energy, plays a significant role in lowering energy penalty for $CO2$ separation and liquefaction. The promising results obtained here provide a new approach for $CO2$ removal with low energy penalty.

1.
Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
, 2005, “
IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
,”
Cambridge University Press
,
UK
.
2.
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group
, 2002, “
Updated Cost and Performance Estimates for Fossil Fuel Power Plants With CO2 Removal
,” Report No. 1004483.
3.
Rao
,
A. B.
, and
Rubin
,
E. S.
, 2002, “
A Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of Amine Based CO2 Capture Technology for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Control
,”
Environ. Sci. Technol.
0013-936X,
36
, pp.
4467
4475
.
4.
Singh
,
D.
,
Croiset
,
E.
,
Douglas
,
P. L.
, and
Douglas
,
M. A.
, 2003, “
Techno-Economic Study of CO2 Capture From an Existing Coal-Fired Power Plant: MEA Scrubbing vs. O2/CO2 Recycle Combustion
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
0196-8904,
44
, pp.
3073
3091
.
5.
Alstom Power Inc.
,
ABB Lummus Global Inc.
,
Alstom Power Environmental Systems
, and
American Electric Power
, 2001, “
Engineering Feasibility and Economics of CO2 Capture on an Existing Coal-Fired Power Plant
,” Report No. PPL-01-CT-09, http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/Resources/Analysis/pubs/AlstomReport.pdfhttp://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/Resources/Analysis/pubs/AlstomReport.pdf.
6.
Dillon
,
D. J.
,
Panesar
,
R. S.
,
Wall
,
R. A.
,
Allam
,
R. J.
,
White
,
V.
,
Gibbins
,
J.
, and
Haines
,
M. R.
, 2005, “
Oxy-Combustion Processes for CO2 Capture From Advanced Supercritical PF and NGCC Power Plant
,”
Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Volume I: Peer Reviewed Papers and Overviews
, Oxford, UK, pp.
211
220
.
7.
Nsakala
,
N.
,
Liljedahl
,
G.
,
Marion
,
J.
,
Bozzuto
,
C.
,
Andrus
,
H.
, and
Chamberland
,
R.
, 2003, “
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control by Oxygen Firing in Circulating Fluidised Bed Boilers
,”
Second Annual National Conference on Carbon Sequestration
, Alexandria, VA, May 5–8.
8.
Rubin
,
E. S.
, and
Rao
,
A. B.
, and
Chen
,
C.
, 2005, “
Comparative Assessments of Fossil Fuel Power Plants With CO2 Capture and Storage
,”
Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, Volume I: Peer Reviewed Papers and Overviews
, Oxford, UK, pp.
285
294
.
9.
Chiesa
,
P.
,
Consonni
,
S.
,
Kreutz
,
T.
, and
Williams
,
R.
, 2005, “
Co-Production of Hydrogen, Electricity, and CO2 From Coal With Commercially Ready Technology. Part A: Performance and Emissions
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
0360-3199,
30
(
7
), pp.
747
767
.
10.
Kreutz
,
T.
,
Williams
,
R.
,
Consonni
,
S.
, and
Chiesa
,
P.
, 2005, “
Co-Production of Hydrogen, Electricity, and CO2 From Coal With Commercially Ready Technology. Part B: Economic Analysis
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
0360-3199,
30
(
7
), pp.
769
784
.
11.
Jin
,
H.
,
Zhang
,
X.
, and
Gao
,
L.
, 2008, “
Fundamental study of CO2 Control Technologies and Policies in China
,”
Sci. China, Ser. E: Technol. Sci.
1006-9321,
51
(
5
), pp.
1
14
.
12.
Jin
,
H.
,
Gao
,
L.
,
Han
,
W.
, and
Yan
,
J.
, 2007, “
A New Approach Integrating CO2 Capture Into a Coal-Based Polygeneration System of Power and Liquid Fuel
,” ASME Paper No. GT-2007-27678.
13.
Jin
,
H.
,
Han
,
W.
, and
Gao
,
L.
, 2007, “
A Novel Multi-Functional Energy System (MES) for CO2 Removal With Zero Energy Penalty
,”
Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo
, Montreal, Canada, Paper No. GT-2007-27680.
14.
Celik
,
F.
,
Larson
,
E. D.
, and
Williams
,
R. H.
, 2005, “
Transportation Fuel From Coal With Low CO2 Emissions
,”
Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Volume II: Papers, Posters and Panel Discussion
, Oxford, UK, pp.
1053
1058
.
15.
Staicovici
,
M. D.
, 2002, “
Further Research Zero CO2 Emission Power Production: The ‘COOLENERG’ Process
,”
Energy
0360-5442,
27
(
9
), pp.
831
844
.
16.
Deng
,
S.
,
Jin
,
H.
,
Cai
,
R.
, and
Lin
,
R.
, 2002, “
Novel Gas Turbine Cycle With Integration of CO2 Recovery and LNG Cryogenic Exergy Utilization
,”
Proceedings of ASME IMECE
, New Orleans, LA.
17.
Zhang
,
N.
, and
Lior
,
N.
, 2003, “
A Novel Near-Zero CO2 Emission Thermal Cycle With LNG Cryogenic Exergy Utilization
,”
Proceedings of ECOS
, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp.
1467
1478
.
18.
Wang
,
B.
,
Jin
,
H.
,
Han
,
W.
, and
Zheng
,
D.
, 2004, “
IGCC System With Integration of CO2 Recovery and the Cryogenic Energy in Air Separation Unit
,” ASME Paper No. GT-2004-53723.
19.
Wang
,
S. H.
, 2001,
Handbook Of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
,
McGraw-Hill
,
New York
.
20.
Parsons
,
E. L.
,
Shelton
,
W. W.
, and
Lyons
,
J. L.
, 2002, “
Advanced Fossil Power Systems Comparison Study