Integrated Systems for Electricity and Hydrogen Co-production from Coal and Biomass

This paper describes the results of thermodynamic and economic modelling based on integrating an existing large size steam power plant with a hydrogen production and purification plants fed by coal or biomass mixed with coal.The high quality of the hydrogen produced would guarantee its usability for distributed generation and for public transport. The proximity of a hydrogen production plant to a steam power plant could favour connections in terms of energy requirements exchange; systems proposed could represent an attractive approach to co-production of hydrogen and electricity. Two different technologies for the syngas production section are considered: pyrolysis process and direct pressurised gasification.