Integration of molten carbonate fuel cells in a refinery setting

摘要

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells in a refinery setting. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be used to provide hydrogen to various refinery processes, including providing hydrogen in place of using a carbon-based fuel for various combustion reactions. In a further aspect, CO2-containing streams generated by refinery processes can also be used as input streams to the molten carbonate fuel cells.

主权项

1. A method for generating hydrogen in a refinery, the method comprising:
introducing a fuel stream comprising a reformable fuel into an anode of a molten carbonate fuel cell, an internal reforming element associated with the anode, or a combination thereof; introducing a cathode inlet stream comprising CO2 and O2 into a cathode of the molten carbonate fuel cell; generating electricity within the molten carbonate fuel cell; generating an anode exhaust comprising H2 and CO2; performing a separation on the anode exhaust to form a CO2-rich gas stream having a CO2 content greater than a CO2 content of the anode exhaust, and a CO2-depleted gas stream comprising hydrogen and having a CO2 content less than the CO2 content of the anode exhaust; and delivering the CO2-depleted gas stream to one or more second refinery processes, wherein the molten carbonate fuel cell is operated (i) such that a CO2 utilization in the cathode is at least about 60% and either (ii) so as to achieve a thermal ratio from about 0.25 to about 1.15, or (iii) such that an amount of the reformable fuel introduced into the anode, the internal reforming element associated with the anode, or the combination thereof, provides a reformable fuel surplus ratio of at least about 1.5, or (iv) both (ii) and (iii).