THERMODYNAMIC AND EXERGY ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PROCESS FROM SUGAR CANE DERIVED ETHANOL STEAM REFORMING

Abstract

The Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production from sugar cane derived ethanol steam reforming was carried out in the present paper. The equilibrium yield at different pressures (1-9 atm), temperatures (300-900 ºC) and the reactants molar ratios water\ethanol (2-8) was calculated applying the minimization of Gibbs free energy method. The temperature and reactants molar ratio showed a positive influence on the hydrogen yield; however the increment in the pressure decreases the hydrogen concentration. The conditioning stages (mixing, vaporization and heating) were studied in addition to the reaction to analyze the system quality by means of an
exergetic method applying the 2nd law of thermodynamic. The analysis allowed calculating the exergy efficiency and losses to change in the operation conditions (temperature, pressure and water\ethanol feed molar ratio).