Finding a suitable catalyst for on-board ethanol reforming using exhaust heat from an internal combustion engine

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2017-05, Vol.42 (19), p.13681-13690
• Main Authors: Casanovas, Albert, Divins, Núria J., Rejas, Alberto, Bosch, Ricard, Llorca, Jordi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioetanol; Bioethanol; Bioéthanol; Catalitzadors; Catalysts; Energies; Enginyeria mecànica; Ethanol reforming; Exhaust heat; Hidrogen; Hydrogen; Internal combustion engine; Internal combustion engines; Motors; Motors de combustió interna; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.11.197

Ethanol steam reforming with pure ethanol and commercial bioethanol (S/C = 3) was carried out inside the housing of the exhaust gas pipe of a gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) by using exhaust heat (610–620 °C). Various catalytic honeycombs loaded with potassium-promoted cobalt hydrotalcite and with ceria-based rhodium–palladium catalysts were tested under different reactant loads. The hydrogen yield obtained over the cobalt-based catalytic honeycomb at low load (F/W 200 h) at high load (F/W = 150 mLliq·gcat−1·h−1, GHSV = 2.4·103 h−1) showed that promotion of the ceria-supported noble metal catalyst with alumina and zirconia is a key element for practical application using commercial bioethanol. HRTEM analysis of post mortem honeycombs loaded with RhPd/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2–Al2O3 showed no carbon formation and no metal agglomeration. [Display omitted] •Exhaust heat from an ICE is used for catalytic reforming of ethanol.•Cobalt hydrotalcite exhibits low activity and large coke accumulation.•Ceria-supported RhPd produces up to 1 STP LH2·mLliq−1·min−1.•The stability is greatly enhanced over RhPd/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2–Al2O3.