Natural Gas Utilization: Simulation of Steam Methane Reforming and Decarbonization by Diethanolamine Absorption for Hydrogen Production in Nigeria

Abstract

This study explores the integration of steam methane reforming (SMR) with diethanolamine (DEA) absorption for carbon capture, using CAPE-OPEN Flowsheet Environment (COFE) and Aspen Hysys for simulation, focusing on hydrogen production for energy use in Nigeria. The integration aims to optimize operational parameters, regenerate the DEA solvent, and produce hydrogen with minimal CO₂ content, offering a sustainable solution for hydrogen production. Simulation results show that the process significantly enhances hydrogen yield, increasing its concentration from 50.00 mol% in syngas to 60.13 mol% in sweet gas, while reducing CO₂ content from 7.10 mol% to 0.06 mol%. The lean DEA solvent was successfully regenerated, achieving 100 mol% purity after stripping. The study highlights the environmental and economic benefits of this approach, particularly in addressing the impact of natural gas flaring and promoting hydrogen as a cleaner fuel in Nigeria. It provides policy recommendations to support the adoption of SMR-DEA technology, emphasizing its feasibility and alignment with global sustainability goals, positioning Nigeria for improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint.