Principle of Hydrogen Production from Coal
2019.12.21
Hydrogen production from coal can be realized via various gasification methods, such as fluidized bed, entrained flow bed, fixed bed gasification, and so on. The basic principle of coal-based hydrogen production can be expressed by chemical reaction equations. The main reaction is:
C(s) + H₂O + heat → CO + H₂
This reaction is endothermic and requires additional heat for the reforming process, which is supplied by the heat released from the combustion of coal with air. The CO in the product is further converted into CO₂ and H₂ through the water-gas shift reaction:
CO + H₂O → CO₂ + H₂ + heat
Coal-to-hydrogen technology is well-developed and commercially available. However, this hydrogen production process is relatively complex and costly, and the CO₂ generated during production contributes to the global greenhouse effect. Nevertheless, due to the abundant coal reserves worldwide, this method remains a major way to produce hydrogen.