Ethanol-Steam Reforming using Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Catalyst

Abstract

Hydrogen for fuel-cell power plants is commonly manufactured from hydrogen-rich materials such as hydrocarbons and alcohols, using steam-reforming with catalysts. Recently, the authors have investigated the optimum conditions for efficient and endurable steam reforming. In the present study, the authors investigate the optimum conditions, especially focusing on both the influences of LHSV upon concentrations and the ethanol conversion. As a result, all the concentrations are close to the theory except for the case at low T_R and high LHSV. To settle the inconsistency of this exceptional case, the authors propose a new theory using some chemical reactions related with acetaldehyde.