Research progress of methane steam reforming for hydrogen production

It is well known that the hydrogen becomes the green and clean energy in the 21st century because of its high combustion heat value, abundant reserves and friendly-environment. In recent years, methane steam reforming for hydrogen production has attracted much attention. However, the complexity of methane reforming and the uncertainty of reaction mechanism are the important factors that restrict the industrial hydrogen production of methane steam reforming. Therefore, the reforming process from five aspects of the process of hydrogen production, reaction mechanism, thermodynamic research, catalyst types and reactors selection are summarized and analyzed in this paper. The change trend of Gibbs free energy in the process of hydrogen production from methane steam reforming is described, the influence rule of different working conditions parameters on the reforming reaction and the selection of reactors in reforming process are studied, the microscopic mechanism of the reforming reaction process is analyzed, and the influence degree of catalysts on the reforming reaction is revealed according to different kinds of catalysts. In this paper, the variation law of methane steam reforming for hydrogen production is summarized comprehensively, and the development prospect and research direction of methane steam reforming for hydrogen production are reviewed.