Overview of Hydrogen Production and Uses

Worldwide, industrial hydrogen is currently produced at over 41 MM

tons/yr with 80% of production coming from the steam reforming of
natural gas [1]. Globally, hydrogen produced “on-purpose”, i.e., not as
part of a petrochemical processing, is about 16 trillion scf/year; and
refinery by-product hydrogen is about 14 trillion scf/yr, or about half
the global total. The growing demand for hydrogen in chemical
manufacturing, petroleum refining, and the new emerging clean
energy concepts will place greater demands on supply and will most
certainly impact pricing. This Vision2020 sponsored study was
undertaken to provide research and development guidance for the
planning and development of new separation technologies to drive the
unfavorable equilibrium thermodynamics for improved H2 production. A
starting point for this assessment is to define current technology and
operating conditions. Following this introductory information, specific
recommendations are set forth to provide the performance
improvements needed to enhance efficiencies and achieve energy
savings.
Hydrogen is used commercially in petroleum and chemical processing
for hydrodesulfurization, and the production of syngas, ammonia,
methanol, higher alcohols, urea and hydrochloric acid [2-6]. It is also
used in Fischer Tropsch reactions, as a reducing agent (metallurgy),
and to upgrade petroleum products and oils (hydrogenation,
hydrocracking) [2-6]. Due to increased demand, H2 is increasingly
being produced from natural gas by steam reforming, partial oxidation
and autothermal reforming.