High efficiency hydrogen production by heavy hydrocarbon plasma decomposition

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22336
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0202:Condensed matter physics, plasma science, nuclear engineering, earth resources engineering, energy engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Yonago National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Shiraishi Ryoya 米子工業高等専門学校, その他部局等, 講師 (20780084)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 水素 / 高次炭化水素 / プラズマ / クリーンエネルギー / エネルギー変換

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For the purpose of developing a CO2-free high-efficiency hydrogen production method, liquid hydrogen raw materials (n-dodecane or methanol) were miniaturized by using carrier gas (methane), and these were decomposed by plasma. As a result, an efficiency of 0.26 Nm3 / kWh, which is twice the efficiency of the conventional in-liquid plasma method, was obtained without CO2 emissions. The reason for the improvement in efficiency is that the raw material supply rate could be kept constant by using the carrier gas, and the reaction area increased by the miniaturization of the raw material. It was also indicated that an effective heat recovery system could further improve efficiency.

Free Research Field

カーボンニュートラル燃料工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現行の工業的水素製造法である水蒸気改質法はCO2排出を伴う。これに対し、本研究の手法はCO2排出を伴わない水素製造が可能である。また、本研究で得られた知見は超高効率水素製造実現のために有益であり、将来的に水素製造のためのエネルギーコストを低下させることで、持続型社会実現に向けた水素エネルギー普及に役立つ。