LIFECYCLE EMISSION ANALYSIS OF A CHEMICAL LOOPING COMBUSTION THERMALLY COUPLED STEAM REFORMING FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

This study conducts a lifecycle emission analysis of hydrogen production via chemical looping combustion thermally coupled steam reforming (CLC-TC-SR). The analysis encompasses the entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. Our results show that CLC-TC-SR offers a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) compared to traditional steam methane reforming (SMR). The majority of emissions (approximately 70%) are attributed to raw material extraction and processing, while the CLC-TC-SR process itself is nearly carbon-neutral due to the inherent CO, capture, reducing CO, emissions by up to 95% A lifecycle assessment (LCA) following ISO standards was conducted to analyze key stages like natural gas extraction, oxygen carrier synthesis, and CO, management, showing significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Sensitivity analysis reveals that varying energy sources and material efficiencies can affect overall emissions by as much as 20-30%. This research demonstrates the potential of CLCTC- SR to support a low-carbon hydrogen economy, contributing to the ongoing efforts to develop low-carbon hydrogen production technologies crucial for achieving climate targets by 85%.