Effects of PEMFC operating parameters on the performance of an integrated ethanol processor

JAVIER A. FRANCESCONI; MIGUEL C. MUSSATI; PIO A. AGUIRRE

San Juan

Congreso; 3er Congreso Nacional y 2do Congreso Iberoamericano HYFUSEN 2009 Hidrógeno y fuentes sustentables de energía; 2009

Instituto de Energía y Desarrollo Sustentable IEDS de la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica CNEA

The future sustainability of a hydrogen economy depends mainly on the primary sources used in the hydrogen production. Bioethanol reforming represents a clean and renewable alternative route of manufacture. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for stationary and mobile applications are highly integrated systems including fuel processing, fuel cell itself and post-combustion units. In this paper the performance of a complete fuel cell processing ethanol fuel has been analyzed as a function of the main fuel cell operating parameters. The fuel processor is based on steam reforming, followed by high- and low-temperature shift reactors and preferential oxidation, which are coupled to a polymeric fuel cell (PEMFC). PEMFC operation has been analyzed using an available parametric model. Our goal is to analyze and improve a fuel cell system performance by simulation techniques. The process under study was implemented within HYSYS process simulation software. Pinch Analysis concepts were used to investigate the energy integration and determine maximum efficiency minimizing ethanol consumption. The effect of fuel cell temperature, pressure, hydrogen utilization and pure oxygen as agent oxidant was analyzed. The trade-off between the reformer yield and the fuel cell performance defines the optimal operation pressure. The cell temperature determines operating zones where the water, involved in the reforming reactions, can be produced or demanded.