Experimental study on a new process of producing hydrogen in consumption of water and coal

A new process of producing pure H 2 in consumption of H 2 O and carbon is presented. It contains three reactions: (1) Steam reacts with FeO at 800°C generating pure H 2 and Fe 3 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 ; (2) Fe 3 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 are reduced to FeO by CO at same temperature while CO changes to CO 2 ; (3) The produced CO 2 reacts with carbon generating CO at 900°C. The net product of the process is H 2 and CO. Theoretical energy gain of the new process is much higher than 1.0 and is energetically more than autarky. Some CO satisfies the process energy requirement and the surplus CO outputs as by‐product. Experiments proved the feasibility of the process with indication of the importance to control the extent of reduction. The prominent advantages embedded allow the process applied in large‐scale to trade coal for hydrogen. As such, instead of burning coal, hydrogen is burnt wherever energy is consumed.