Abstract
Demand for hydrogen is rapidly growing in the current environmental approach to meeting requirements of extremely low-sulfur and increasingly light fuels. The trend toward increase in hydrogen demand is expected to be accelerated with development and commercialization of fuel cell and synthesis fuel oil which are both attracting widespread attention as clean energy technologies.
The steam reforming process, which has been used as the most popular industrial hydrogen production technology, is outlined here. The life cycle assessment, which rates net emissions of greenhouse gases from the steam reforming process, is also introduced. In addition, efficient methods for increasing the capacity of the steam reforming process are explained in the light of increasing calls in recent years for revamping hydrogen plants.
