H<sub>2</sub> production by ethanol decomposition with a gliding arc discharge plasma reactor

doi:10.1007/s11705-013-1327-4

Front Chem Sci Eng

2013, Vol. 7

Issue (2) : 145-153 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-013-1327-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

H₂ production by ethanol decomposition with a gliding arc discharge plasma reactor

Baowei WANG(

), Wenjie GE, Yijun Lü, Wenjuan YAN

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

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Abstract

A gliding arc discharge (GRD) reactor was used to decompose ethanol into primarily H₂ and CO with small amounts of CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆. The ethanol concentration, electrode gap, input voltage and Ar flow rate all affected the conversion of ethanol with results ranging from 40.7% to 58.0%. Interestingly, for all experimental conditions the S_H₂/S_CO selectivity ratio was quite stable at around 1.03. The mechanism for the decomposition of ethanol is also described.

Keywords gliding arc discharge ethanol hydrogen decomposition plasma

Corresponding Author(s): WANG Baowei,Email:wangbw@tju.edu.cn

Issue Date: 05 June 2013

Cite this article:

Baowei WANG,Wenjie GE,Yijun Lü, et al. H₂ production by ethanol decomposition with a gliding arc discharge plasma reactor[J]. Front Chem Sci Eng, 2013, 7(2): 145-153.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-013-1327-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2013/V7/I2/145

Fig.1 1 Ar tank; 2 electric constant temperature water bath; 3 jar; 4 vaporization room (VR); 5 thermocouple; 6 oscilloscope; 7 high-voltage probe; 8 electrodes; 9 quartz tube; 10 high voltage power supply; 11 cool trap; 12 bubble flow controller; 13 gas chromatograph; 14 wet gas flowmeter
A schematic diagram of the GRD reactor and experimental setup

Tab.1 Instrument ranges and precisions.

Fig.2 The Effect of ethanol concentration on (a) ethanol conversion and H yield, (b) selectivity of the gaseous products (Electrode gap 4.0 mm, discharge voltage 9.4 kV, Ar flow rate 52.0 mL/min)

Fig.3 Effect of Ar flow rate on ethanol conversion and H yield (Electrode gap 4.0 mm, ethanol volume content 25.6%, discharge voltage 9.4 kV)

Tab.2 The effect of the Ar flow rate on the selectivity of the gaseous products (H, CO, CH, CH and CH)

Fig.4 Effect of discharge voltage on (a) ethanol conversion and H yield, (b) selectivity of gaseous products (Electrode gap 4.0 mm, ethanol volume content 25.6%, Ar flow rate 52.0 mL/min)

Tab.3 The effect of the electrode gap on ethanol decomposition

Fig.5 Effect of the electrode gap on the selectivity of outlet gaseous products
(Ethanol volume content 25.6%, Ar flow rate 52.0 mL/min, discharge voltage 14.2 kV)

Fig.6

Tab.4 Comparison of hydrogen generation from ethanol using different plasma reactors

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