Towards a more sustainable future: Transitioning from thermochemical to electrochemical processes in clean energy technologies relevant to hydrogen‐containing fuels

作者：Jasna Janković, David P. Wilkinson · 发表于：The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/cjce.25549 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Chemical Looping and Thermochemical Processes、CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts、Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract This review paper explores the transition from thermochemical to electrochemical processes in clean energy technologies, particularly focusing on hydrogen‐containing fuels, namely hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. The main characteristics of the thermochemical and electrochemical technologies are compared, followed by a focus on specific approaches in production of each of these e‐fuels. Steam methane reforming, partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, coal and biomass gasification, as well as thermal decomposition and autothermal reforming processes are discussed for hydrogen thermochemical production. Electrochemical technologies for green hydrogen production are then described, including water electrolysis based on alkaline, proton exchange membrane, anion exchange, and solid oxide cells. The paper further compares the Haber–Bosch process with the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia, and discusses thermochemical technologies for methanol synthesis from syngas, comparing them to the two electrochemical approaches‐electrochemical CO 2 reduction and methane oxidation reaction. Additionally, approaches for extracting hydrogen from ammonia and methanol by electrochemical reforming are briefly discussed. The paper closes with the future prospects and challenges of the transition from the traditional thermochemical technologies to the more sustainable electrochemical processes. Despite the promising prospects of the electrochemical technologies, challenges such as high initial...