Natural Gas to Hydrogen and Other Products at Low to Zero Emissions

Ferrer, Francisco Daniel Alana

Natural Gas to Hydrogen and Other Products at Low to Zero Emissions

dc.contributor.advisor	Mehta, Sudarshan
dc.contributor.author	Ferrer, Francisco Daniel Alana
dc.contributor.committeemember	Clarke, Matthew Alexander
dc.contributor.committeemember	Pereira-Almao, Pedro R.
dc.date	2025-06
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-15T20:53:30Z
dc.date.available	2025-01-15T20:53:30Z
dc.date.issued	2025-01-09
dc.description.abstract	In light of pressing environmental challenges, such as global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions, hydrogen has emerged as a vital component in maximizing renewable energy use and facilitating the transition to a sustainable future. Currently, the majority of hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. While significant advancements have been made in alternative hydrogen generation technologies, steam methane reforming (SMR) remains the most established and widely implemented method. However, its high energy demands and CO2 emissions have prompted research into low-temperature hydrogen production technologies. This study focuses on low-temperature steam reforming (LTSR) and dry reforming (DRM) processes, operating between 500 and 600 °C, utilizing innovative Ni-Ce formulation catalysts (CAT-1 and CAT-2). Catalyst CAT-1 demonstrated exceptional performance in the LTSR of a natural gas model, achieving complete conversion of ethane and propane while maintaining near-equilibrium levels of methane under various operational conditions. This approach eliminated the need for water-gas shift and pre-reforming stages, simplifying system complexity and reducing construction costs. While the catalyst showed remarkable efficacy in hydrogen production, challenges related to sulfur compound deactivation were noted, leading to the recommendation of a guard reactor. Furthermore, catalyst CAT-2 exhibited outstanding stability during DRM, achieving near-equilibrium conversion rates and effectively suppressing carbon deposition through elevated CO2/CH4 ratios. Long-term tests confirmed no signs of catalyst degradation, enabling direct feeding of natural gas into the dry reforming reactor and thereby minimizing pre-treatment requirements and capital expenditures. Ultimately, the integration of LTSR and DRM processes represents a promising solution for significantly reducing carbon emissions while producing hydrogen and syngas more efficiently than conventional methods, with estimated CAPEX savings of approximately 36% for standalone LTSR units compared to traditional steam methane reforming units.
dc.identifier.citation	Ferrer, F. (2025). Natural gas to hydrogen and other products at low to zero emissions (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/120429
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	greenhouse gas emissions
dc.subject	Hydrogen production
dc.subject	Renewable energy
dc.subject	Sustainable future
dc.subject	Natural gas
dc.subject.classification	Engineering--Chemical
dc.subject.classification	Energy
dc.title	Natural Gas to Hydrogen and Other Products at Low to Zero Emissions
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.