Numerical Evaluation and Analysis for Hydrogen Production Via Ethanol Steam Reforming

Abstract

In the present study, two series of Ni/Ce/ZrO₂ catalysts were prepared. The first one is n% Ni/Ce_0.74Zr_0.26O₂ (n = 0, 2, 10 and 20 wt %). The second is 10%Ni / m (Ce/ZrO₂) (m = 0, 4, 6 and 8). Catalysts have been investigated for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) to produce hydrogen. The reaction was studied in an atmospheric flow system, the temperature range was 200-600 ºC and water/ethanol (6, 8, 10 molar ratio). The effect of using H₂O₂ as an oxidant in auto-thermal reforming of ethanol has been also investigated (at 400 ºC, and H₂O₂/ethanol ratio = 8) to get highest hydrogen selectivity with lower CO ratio. Numerical evaluation and analysis have been performed for the above obtained results. It has been observed that the ethanol conversion, hydrogen production and some of the various investigated relations are functions of more than one independent variable. So, the response surface methodology (RSM) has been employed to evaluate these relations.

Key Words: Numerical analysis, Response surface methodology, Ethanol steam reforming, Ni/Ce/ZrO₂ catalysts.