Natalie Von Achen

Cheg4142 – Hw5

11/14/14

Introduction:

This problem focuses on the optimization of the extraction of H2 from one mole of CH4 without
using any external energy. In this system, some of the CH4 will be oxidized with air in order to produce
the heat that will be used in the reactions. The combustion unit produce steam that is flashed from the
Co2 and used for reforming the left over CH4. A water splitter and water mixer are added in order to
provide for the reformer. Two heat exchangers are used to preheat gasses entering the reactors and
maximize the utilization of heat. Hydrogen is a very viable source of fuel that has several advangates
over methane. Firstly, it is readily available. Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth, and
because of it’s simplistic structure, has no harmful emissions. Hydrogen is a non-toxic gas, making ti
environmentally friendly. It is also a renewable resource due to the fact that it is easily formed through
electroylsis and other reactions.

Theory:

In this problem, we assume that temperatures are equal to 25C, and pressures are 1atm unless
otherwise stated. Also, all inlet streams are assumed to be 1kmol/hr unless otherwise stated.

Solution:

The maximum amount of H2 that can be produced out of 1kmol/hr of CH4 is 1.874kmol/hr,
according to this flowsheet. The CO2/H2 ratio is approximately 1:4 (.469:1.874). In order to improve this
flow sheet, I would recommend that more CH4 be used in the reaction. With more products, there will
be more output, and we can maximize the H2 output for this size of reactor.
Discussion:

Optimized values for this problem are within the acceptable range. The optimal output of H2
from 1kmol/hr of CH4 is 2km/hr. 1.874 is very close to this desired output, but the system can still be
optimized for an ever better one.

Appendix:

;Input Summary created by Aspen Plus Rel. 30.0 DYNAMICS

at 19:31:01 Tue Nov 11, 2014
DYNAMICS RESULTS=ON
;Directory C:\ProgramData\AspenTech\Aspen
Plus V8.4 Filename
C:\Users\nav09004\AppData\Local\Temp\~ap6 IN-UNITS MET PRESSURE=bar TEMPERATURE=C
4df.txt DELTA-T=C PDROP=bar &
; INVERSE-PRES='1/bar'
DEF-STREAMS CONVEN ALL BLOCK FLASH IN=FLASHIN OUT=PCO2 H2O

BLOCK REFHX IN=H2CO H2OREFC

OUT=PH2CO H2OREF
MODEL-OPTION
BLOCK COMHX IN=CO2H2O CH4COMC
OUT=FLASHIN CH4COM
DATABANKS 'APV84 PURE28' / 'APV84
BLOCK COMB IN=AIR CH4COM HEATRC
AQUEOUS' / 'APV84 SOLIDS' / &
OUT=CO2H2O
'APV84 INORGANIC' / NOASPENPCD
BLOCK REF IN=CH4REF H2OREF OUT=H2CO
HEATRC

PROP-SOURCES 'APV84 PURE28' / 'APV84

AQUEOUS' / 'APV84 SOLIDS' &
PROPERTIES IDEAL
/ 'APV84 INORGANIC'

STREAM AIR
COMPONENTS
SUBSTREAM MIXED TEMP=25. PRES=1. <atm>
CH4 CH4 / MOLE-FLOW=10.

H2 H2 / MOLE-FRAC NITROGEN 0.79 / OXYGEN 0.21

WATER H2O /

CO2 CO2 / STREAM CH4

NITROGEN N2 / SUBSTREAM MIXED TEMP=25. PRES=1. <atm>

MOLE-FLOW=1.
OXYGEN O2
MOLE-FLOW CH4 1.

SOLVE
STREAM H2OADD
RUN-MODE MODE=SIM
SUBSTREAM MIXED TEMP=25. PRES=1. <atm>
MOLE-FLOW=1.
FLOWSHEET MOLE-FLOW WATER 1.
BLOCK WMIX IN=H2OFLASH H2OADD
OUT=H2OREFC
DEF-STREAMS HEAT HEATRC
BLOCK WSPLIT IN=H2O OUT=H2OFLASH
H2OPURGE

BLOCK CH4SPLIT IN=CH4 OUT=CH4REF BLOCK WMIX MIXER

CH4COMC
PARAM
 OUTLETS-COLD H2OREF

BLOCK CH4SPLIT FSPLIT

FRAC CH4REF 0.5 BLOCK COMB RGIBBS

PARAM PRES=1. <atm> CHEMEQ=YES

MAXIT=50 HYDRATE=RIGOROUS
BLOCK WSPLIT FSPLIT

FRAC H2OPURGE 0.5

BLOCK REF RGIBBS

PARAM TEMP=900. PRES=1. <atm> MAXIT=50

BLOCK FLASH FLASH2

PARAM TEMP=25. PRES=1. <atm>

EO-CONV-OPTI

BLOCK COMHX HEATX

CONSTRAINT C-1
PARAM MIN-OUT-TAPP=10. MIN-TAPP=1.
DEFINE C STREAM-VAR STREAM=CO2H2O
FEEDS HOT=CO2H2O COLD=CH4COMC
SUBSTREAM=MIXED &
OUTLETS-HOT FLASHIN
VARIABLE=TEMP UOM="C"
OUTLETS-COLD CH4COM
DEFINE R STREAM-VAR STREAM=H2CO
HEAT-TR-COEF L-L=730.686 <kcal/hr-sqm-K> SUBSTREAM=MIXED &
&
VARIABLE=TEMP UOM="C"
B-L=730.686 <kcal/hr-sqm-K> V-L=730.686
SPEC "C-15" GE "R"
<kcal/hr-sqm-K> &
TOL-SPEC "1"
L-B=730.686 <kcal/hr-sqm-K> B-B=730.686
<kcal/hr-sqm-K> &

V-B=730.686 <kcal/hr-sqm-K> L-V=730.686 OPTIMIZATION O-1

<kcal/hr-sqm-K> &
DEFINE H2 MOLE-FRAC STREAM=PH2CO
B-V=730.686 <kcal/hr-sqm-K> V-V=730.686 SUBSTREAM=MIXED &
<kcal/hr-sqm-K>
COMPONENT=H2

BLOCK REFHX HEATX
PARAM MIN-OUT-TAPP=10.
FEEDS HOT=H2CO COLD=H2OREFC
MAXIMIZE "H2"
CONSTRAINTS C-1
VARY BLOCK-VAR BLOCK=CH4SPLIT
SENTENCE=FRAC VARIABLE=FRAC &

OUTLETS-HOT PH2CO ID1=CH4REF

 LIMITS "0" "1"

VARY MOLE-FLOW STREAM=H2OADD

SUBSTREAM=MIXED COMPONENT=WATER &

UOM="kmol/hr"

LIMITS "0" "1"

VARY BLOCK-VAR BLOCK=WSPLIT

SENTENCE=FRAC VARIABLE=FRAC &

ID1=H2OPURGE

LIMITS "0" "1"

VARY STREAM-VAR STREAM=AIR

SUBSTREAM=MIXED &

VARIABLE=MOLE-FLOW UOM="kmol/hr"

LIMITS "0" "10"

STREAM-REPOR MOLEFLOW