Enhancement of dilute bio-ethanol steam reforming for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system by using methane as co-reactant: Performance and life cycle assessment

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2015-09, Vol.40 (36), p.12144-12153
• Main Authors: Authayanun, Suthida, Suwanmanee, Unchalee, Arpornwichanop, Amornchai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bio-ethanol; Life cycle assessment; Methane; PEMFC; Steam reforming
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.07.042

The fuel processor and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) integrated process fueled by cassava based bio-ethanol and methane as co-reactant is theoretically investigated and compared with that run by dehydrated bio-ethanol in this work. The methane is added to bio-ethanol reformer as co-reactant to reduce dilution effect of crude bio-ethanol and adjust very high steam to carbon ratio of this system. The hydrogen fraction increases with the reformer temperature and methane to bio-ethanol ratio until reaching a maximum point. In addition, the optimal operating conditions of mixed bio-ethanol and methane reformer and dehydrated bio-ethanol reformer, which achieve the highest reformer efficiency, are presented. The results show that superior fuel processor efficiency, fuel cell efficiency and system efficiency are obtained when the mixed bio-ethanol and methane is used to generate hydrogen. The mixed bio-ethanol and methane reforming integrated with PEMFC system has the lower environmental impact, compared to the dehydrated bio-ethanol reforming integrated with PEMFC system. •The effect of methane addition on a bio-ethanol reforming process is analyzed.•The bio-ethanol and methane reforming integrated with PEMFC (BM-PEMFC) is studied.•The BM-PEMFC is compared with the PEMFC fueled by dehydrated bio-ethanol.•The life cycle assessment of the integrated PEMFC systems is investigated.