Energetic and exergetic analysis of steam reforming of ethanol to hydrogen production

Abstract

This work shows a technical and economic analysis of steam reforming of ethanol. The objective is hydrogen production. This technical analysis comprises of physical-chemical and thermodynamic analysis (inclusively exergetic analysis), which need findings such as temperature and pressure ranges, and reactants volumes to be utilized (in this case ethanol and water) to develop steam reforming process. Through a mathematic modeling, some results such as the volume of these reforming process products (hydrogen and carbon dioxide are the most important products) and advance degree of reaction were obtained. Useful findings to modeling of this process were obtained on the specialized literature. More, about technical analysis, an exergetic analysis was carried out to obtain the best thermodynamic conditions (temperature and pressure) in this reforming process to attain the lowest irreversibilities. This work allowed concluding that steam reforming of ethanol is technically feasible to produce hydrogen, which is an alternative and renewable energy carrier.