Ethanol reforming in a microreactor: heat effects and production rate

A. M. ANZOLA; Y. M. BRUSCHI; N.S. SCHBIB; M. N. PEDERNERA; D.O. BORIO

Lyon, Fracia

Simposio; Natural Gas Conversion Symposium, NGCS-9; 2010

IRCELYON, CNRS-UCBL, FR)

Hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming over catalytic washcoated microreactors is an efficient process in terms of the high heat requirements. The simulation of a microreactor is carried out by a 1-D mathematical model. The system can be represented by foils which flow the reactant mixture and flue gas alternatively. The hydrogen production and the thermal effect are studied for both diluted and concentrated reactant feeds. The results show a trade-off between dilution and hydrogen productivity; higher inert flows improve the conversion but bigger reactors are required to obtain the hydrogen production rate, increasing the downstream separation costs.