The Carbon Capture Project at Air Products’ Port Arthur Hydrogen Production Facility
4 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2019 Last revised: 27 Oct 2020
Date Written: October 26, 2018
Abstract
In April 2013, the first-ever, commercial-scale, steam methane reformer (SMR) hydrogen production facility incorporating vacuum-swing adsorption carbon capture gas separation technology began full-scale operation at Air Products’ hydrogen production facilities located on the site of the Valero Port Arthur Refinery in Texas, USA. An IEAGHG Technical Report 2018-05 funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) concerning the aforementioned project was issued in December 2018. The report summarizes the experience of Air Products and its partners that will provide valuable insights to other petroleum refining and petrochemical industrial facilities that wish to reduce their lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions through CCUS. This paper provides a brief summary of the report that was orally presented at the GHGT-14 conference in October 2018.
To date, carbon capture industrial facilities that have been constructed elsewhere have primarily utilized amine absorption carbon capture technology. This facility stands as a leading example of a pioneering alternative technology that was developed at record speed for reducing the carbon footprint of a petroleum refining utility supply facility.
The APCI Port Arthur Project can be considered a success and a model of engineering excellence. Global hydrogen demand is growing at a remarkable pace to meet the needs of various petroleum and petrochemical facilities that are increasingly processing larger volumes of heavy crude oil and bitumen. The carbon footprint of these facilities needs to be significantly reduced if steam methane reforming is to remain the technology of choice for hydrogen production. Air Products and Chemicals Inc. has led the way by setting a carbon sustainability precedent within the petroleum refining utility supply business. The adoption of similar approaches elsewhere could lead to significant reductions in GHG emissions associated with the refining of petroleum.
Keywords: Integrated commercial CCS projects (private govt funded), GHGT-14
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