ORALS

The catalytic decomposition of methane in molten metals represents a promising complementary methodology to water electrolysis for the production of CO2-free hydrogen. In this process, methane is introduced into a liquid, catalytically active molten metal and cracked, whereby the resulting solid carbon is transported to the surface of the metal bath. In order to be able to investigate fundamental issues surrounding the production of hydrogen in this strategically important research segment, the corresponding infrastructure is created in the form of a technical centre (Hydrogen Research Centre, HRC) at the University of Leoben in Austria. In this paper, the relevant equipment is explained in detail and the influence of the scale-up stages of the methane pyrolysis process up to demonstration scale on the products hydrogen and carbon is described. The demonstration plant planned at the HRC consists of different aggregates, which are necessary for a comprehensive investigation of various process parameters affecting methane pyrolysis in the metal bath. The central metallurgical unit is an induction furnace, which can be operated in a metallurgical vacuum and at pressures of up to 10 bar. A hot gas filter with heat exchanger is planned for the subsequent product flow treatment to separate the solid carbon produced during methane decomposition. By means of a membrane separator, the particle-free gas stream, which mainly consists of hydrogen and unreacted CH4, can be divided in order to enrich H2. Furthermore, by using a thermal afterburning system, it is possible to completely neutralise all of the products created in this process.