Hydrogen production from partial oxidation of dimethyl ether by plasma-catalyst reforming

Abstract

Hydrogen was produced from partial oxidation reforming of DME (dimethyl ether) by spark discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure. A plasma-catalyst reformer was designed. A series of experiments were carried out to investigate its performance of hydrogen-rich gas production. The effects of reaction temperature, catalyst and flow rate on gas concentrations (volume fraction), hydrogen yield, DME conversion ratio, specific energy consumption and thermal efficiency were investigated, respectively. The experimental results show that hydrogen concentration and the flow rate of produced H₂ are improved when temperature increases from 300 °C to 700 °C. Hydrogen yield, hydrogen concentration and the flow rate of produced H₂ are substantially improved in the use of Fe-based catalyst at high temperature. Moreover, hydrogen yield and thermal efficiency are improved and change slightly when flow rate increases. When catalyst is 12 g, and flow rate increases from 35 mL/min to 210 mL/min, hydrogen yield decreases from 66.4% to 57.7%, and thermal efficiency decreases from 35.6% to 30.9%. It is anticipated that the results would serve as a good guideline to the application of hydrogen generation from hydrocarbon fuels by plasma reforming onboard.

Keywords

plasma-catalyst / reforming / hydrogen production / dimethyl ether / high temperature

References

[1] ElostaW, ZeghlamJ. Hydrogen as a fuel for the transportation sector: Possibilities and views for future applications in Libya [J]. Applied Energy, 2000, 65(1–4): 165-171

[2] MoriD, HiroseK. Recent challenges of hydrogen storage technologies for fuel cell vehicles [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(10): 4569-4574

[3] NicolaeA, RaduCA study of combustion of hydrogen-enriched gasoline in a spark ignition engine [J], 1996

[4] EnricoC, KonstantinosBInfluence of hydrogen-rich-gas addition on combustion, pollutant formation and efficiency of an IC-SI engine [J], 2004

[5] OuyangM-g, ZhangY-h, XinJ, YuanY-nan. Redesign and control of a hydrogen-fueled IC engine [J]. Chinese Internal Combustion Engine Engineering, 2006, 27(6): 1-5

[6] LiH-l, KarimG A. Exhaust emissions from an SI engine operating on gaseous fuel mixtures containing hydrogen [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2005, 30(13/14): 1491-1499

[7] TsolakisA, MegaritisA. Catalytic exhaust gas fuel reforming for diesel engines-effects of water addition on hydrogen production and fuel conversion efficiency [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004, 29(13): 1409-1419

[8] LiX-huConspectus of electric vehicle [M], 2005, Beijing, Beijing Institute of Technology Press: 1-5

[9] KwakB S, LeeJ S, LeeJ S, ChoiB H, JiM J, KangM. Hydrogen-rich gas production from ethanol steam reforming over Ni/Ga/Mg/Zeolite Y catalysts at mild temperature [J]. Applied Energy, 2011, 88(12): 4366-4375

[10] ChaoY, HuangC-t, LeeH-m, ChangM-been. Hydrogen production via partial oxidation of methane with plasma-assisted catalysis [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(2): 664-671

[11] FariaW L S, DieguezL C, SchmalM. Autothermal reforming of propane for hydrogen production over Pd/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts [J]. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2008, 85(1/2): 77-85

[12] BrombergL, CohnD R, RabinovichA. Plasma reformer-fuel cell system for decentralized power applications [J]. Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 1997, 22(1): 83-94

[13] PanY-x, LiuC-jun. DFT study on pathways of partial oxidation of DME under cold plasma conditions [J]. Fuel Processing Technology, 2007, 88(10): 967-976

[14] PetitpasG, RollierJ D, DarmonA, GonzalezA J, MetkemeijerR, FulcheriL. Review-a comparative study of non-thermal plasma assisted reforming technologies [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2007, 32(14): 2848-2867

[15] CormierJ M, RusuI. Syngas production via methane steam reforming with oxygen: plasma reactors versus chemical reactors [J]. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2001, 34(18): 2798-2803

[16] TaghvaeiH, ShiraziM M, HooshmandN, RahimpourM R, JahanmiriA. Experimental investigation of hydrogen production through heavy naphtha cracking in pulsed DBD reactor [J]. Applied Energy, 2012, 98: 3-10

[17] LucheJ, AubryO, KhacefA, CormierJ M. Syngas production from methane oxidation using a non-thermal plasma: Experiments and kinetic modeling [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2009, 149(1/2/3): 35-41

[18] HenriquesJ, BundaleskaN, TatarovaE, DiasF M, FerreiraC M. Microwave plasma torches driven by surface wave applied for hydrogen production [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2011, 36(1): 345-354

[19] SongL-j, LiX-h, ZhengT-lei. Onboard hydrogen production from partial oxidation of dimethyl ether by spark discharge plasma reforming [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(19): 5060-5065