Methods of using sorbents to enhance the production of hydrogen from fuel, and related systems, are generally described. In some embodiments, the production of hydrogen from the fuel involves a reforming reaction and/or a gasification reaction combined with a water-gas shift reaction.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for hydrogen production as well as apparatuses useful in such systems and methods, including steam generation systems and methods. Hydrogen is produced by reforming of a hydrocarbon in a plurality of reformers to achieve improved reforming efficiency. A CO.sub.2 convective reformer (CCR) and an oxygen secondary reformer (OSR) are used in series to convert hydrocarbon and steam to synthesis gas with substantially complete carbon capture. Steam generation is provided along separate pathways to provide separate steam streams of different composition.

A reformer for steam reforming a hydrocarbon-containing mixture, including a combustion chamber, a burner arranged within the combustion chamber, a first reactor tube which is arranged at least in sections within the combustion chamber, a catalyst arranged inside the first reactor tube, and an electrically heatable heating element is arranged inside the first reactor tube.

Provided is a steam reforming system including: a heat exchange type-water gas shift reactor into which raw water is introduced to generate a first stream; a steam generator into which the first stream is introduced from the heat exchange type-water gas shift reactor to generate a second stream; a mixer into which a second stream is introduced from the steam generator and the raw gas is separately introduced to generate a mixed raw material; a superheater into which the mixed raw material is introduced from the mixer to generate a third stream; and a steam reforming reactor into which the third stream is introduced from the superheater to generate reformed gas, and further including an electric heater-type evaporator in front of the steam reforming reactor.

A fuel reforming apparatus includes a pre-reformer that converts a fuel gas to methane by bringing the fuel gas into a reaction with water, a reformer that generates a mixture gas including hydrogen by bringing the fuel gas pre-reformed by the pre-reformer into a reaction with the water, a reformer burner that supplies heat to the reformer, and an exhaust gas supply line that causes an exhaust gas discharged from the reformer burner to be supplied to the pre-reformer as a heat source for the reaction of the pre-reformer.

A chemical plant and process are provided. The plant comprises a first biomass feed, a biomass digester arranged to receive the first biomass feed and provide a biogas stream, a reformer section arranged to receive at least a portion of the biogas stream and provide a first synthesis gas stream, and a first waste water stream, and a synthesis section arranged to receive a synthesis gas stream from the reformer section and provide a raw product stream. At least a portion of the first waste water stream is arranged to be fed to the biomass digester. In such a matter, water and heat produced downstream in the plant/process is recycled upstream in the plant/process.

A crude oil is processed to form a hydrocarbon feed stream. The hydrocarbon feed stream is exposed to heat in an absence of oxygen to the convert the hydrocarbon feed stream into a solids stream and a gas stream. The gas stream is separated into an exhaust gas stream and a first hydrogen stream. The carbon is separated from the solids stream to produce a carbon stream. Electrolysis is performed on a water stream to produce an oxygen stream and a second hydrogen stream. At least a portion of the oxygen of the oxygen stream and a second portion of the carbon of the carbon stream are combined to generate power and a carbon dioxide stream. The carbon dioxide is used in dry reforming to produce syngas.

Presented are processes for the beneficial conversion of CO.sub.2 and other environmentally destructive compounds to their constituent parts by the application of thermal plasma containing activated species whereby the interaction of the plasma with the compounds and reactions of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 generate more environmentally friendly compounds comprising in part oxygen and hydrogen. The thermal plasma may be vibro-shear plasma generated by the superheating of either steam, gas or a combination of both.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for hydrogen production as well as apparatuses useful in such systems and methods, including steam generation systems and methods. Hydrogen is produced by reforming of a hydrocarbon in a plurality of reformers to achieve improved reforming efficiency. A CO.sub.2 convective reformer (CCR) and an oxygen secondary reformer (OSR) are used in series to convert hydrocarbon and steam to synthesis gas with substantially complete carbon capture. Steam generation is provided along separate pathways to provide separate steam streams of different composition.

An article for joule heating is described, including a three-dimensional substrate on and/or in which a pyrolyzate of a phenolic resin or polymer forms an electrically conductive carbon network. Such articles may be incorporated in structured materials applications, which may include support, sorbent, and or catalyst components. Also described are methods of fabricating such articles and structured materials, and apparatus comprising same, and methods of use of such articles and structured materials and apparatus for conducting material transformation processes requiring input of heat for their performance, such as CO.sub.2 adsorption, methane pyrolysis for hydrogen and carbon production, hydrogen-assisted conversion of CO.sub.2 to hydrocarbons, including catalytic conversion of CO.sub.2 to olefins, catalytic conversion of CO.sub.2 to propane (liquefied petroleum gas), and catalytic conversion of CO.sub.2 to renewable natural gas, reverse water gas shift reaction, steam ethane cracking, propane cracking, steam methane reforming, and dry methane reforming.