Investigation of ethanol conversion for hydrogen fuel cells using computer simulations

✍ Scribed by Enis Örücü; Mustafa Karakaya; Ahmet K Avcı; Z İlsen Önsan

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 137 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.1288

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Ethanol conversion to hydrogen has been investigated by a series of thermodynamic analyses and computer simulations within the context of a cost‐effective fuel processor/fuel cell system where heat exchange is of great importance. Two different methods, multi‐reaction equilibria and Gibbs free energy minimisation, are used for the thermodynamic analyses. The computer simulations consider the catalytic conversion of ethanol to hydrogen on a bimetallic Pt–Ni catalyst by indirect partial oxidation (IPOX) which consists of total oxidation (TOX), steam reforming (SR) and water–gas shift (WGS) reactions. The results indicate that there is an optimal water:fuel ratio for maximum hydrogen production at each operating condition for hydrogen yields calculated as a percentage of the theoretical value. Mass‐based hydrogen yields are also presented considering fuel economy especially for vehicular applications. Finally, the benefits of using a secondary WGS reactor and the comparison of the results of the two thermodynamic methods are highlighted. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry