Techno-Economic Assessment of Three Different Cases for Hydrogen Production Using Carburization Looping Reforming

This study evaluates the economic viability of carburization reactions as a novel approach for chemical looping reforming using transition metal oxides, particularly tungsten, to produce hydrogen from natural gas. Three process routes are assessed based on capital investment, operating costs, and hydrogen production expenses, supported by sensitivity analysis. The first route (CS) uses air as the combustion agent; the second (ASU-CS) employs air separation units to provide high-purity oxygen; and the third (CS-CCU) adds a carbon capture unit to the CS system. Among them, ASU-CS proves to be the most cost-effective, reducing hydrogen production costs by an average of 48.53% compared to the other routes. When benchmarked against Steam Methane Reforming with 85% carbon capture, the ASU-CS pathway shows a 49.30% cost reduction, particularly when carbon costs are excluded. These findings highlight the economic potential of integrating carburization reactions into reforming processes to advance more sustainable hydrogen production technologies.