Descriptive Title of InventionTechnology

1
Distributed Reforming of NG and Bio-derived
Liquids using Dense Membranes
Problem Technology Addresses Hydrogen can be
produced from diverse domestic resources, but the
cost of production must be reduced. Existing
technologies are suited for centralized
production of hydrogen. To make hydrogen
available for transportation applications,
significant investment must be made to establish
storage and distribution infrastructure. This
project is developing cost-effective small-scale
reformer technology.
Description of Invention/Technology This project
has developed dense ceramic membranes that
transport pure oxygen to efficiently and
cost-effectively produce hydrogen by reforming
natural gas and renewable liquid fuels such as
ethanol and bio-oil. By integrating process
steps, this technology minimizes unit size,
capital cost, energy use, and operating cost.

• Impact
• The cost of distributed production of hydrogen
  from renewable liquids will be 3.80/gge by 2012
  and 3.00/gge by 2017.
• This technology can be also used for hydrogen
  production from coal and biomass.

• IP position Argonne has three issued U.S.
  Patents.

• Technology Status Reforming of NG has been
  demonstrated using button-type membrane reactor
  in the laboratory. Current work is focused on
  improving the oxygen transport property of the
  membranes.
• Three patents are available for licensing.
• Proof-of-concept has been shown in bench-top
  button-type reactor.

Steam
CO2
H2O
Methane (CH4)
H2 Pipeline
Pure H2
H2O