A few days ago, it was learned from the PSA simulation test research group working on producing fuel cell hydrogen from coke oven gas (hereinafter referred to as the "research group") that the research group has achieved breakthrough in the use of coke oven gas to produce fuel cell hydrogen through a one-step pressure swing adsorption process. The research group screened a large number of adsorbents in the early stage of their research. They finalized on a new type of molecular sieve adsorbent, and optimized the composite bed adsorbent formulation and vacuum flushing desorption technology on a single tower device. The results showed that the level of common impurities in the product hydrogen (CO, CO2, CH4 and N2) is better than the national standard "Fuel specification for proton exchange membrane fuel cell vehicles—Hydrogen" (GB/T37244-2018) had specified. Compared with traditional adsorbents, the raw gas processing capacity and hydrogen yield have both been significantly improved.
Fuel cells can be divided into proton exchange membrane fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as PEMFC), alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based on the type of electrolyte used. Among them, the energy conversion efficiency of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) using hydrogen as the reducing agent can exceed 60%, which is twice that of the traditional internal combustion engine, plus its environmentally friendly characteristics. In addition, PEMFC also has the advantages of high specific power, low operating temperature, simple structure, small size, no electrolyte loss, and long service life. PEMFC has attracted wide attention and is known as the pivot technology of the new energy revolution after the internal combustion engine. The hydrogen used for PEMFC mainly comes from five sources, namely, the H2 purified and recovered from industrial hydrogen-containing tail gas, hydrogen production by water electrolysis, hydrogen production by biological methods, and hydrogen production from fossil fuels (natural gas, light oil, coal, etc.). This project used PSA process to recover hydrogen from coke oven gas to achieve high value-added utilization of industrial exhaust gas by isolating and purifying waste gas to produce hydrogen that met the standards for fuel cells uses.