NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY CATALYTIC REFORMING OF ETHANOL WATER STEAM FROM SiC FOAM WITH DIRECT ELECTRICAL HEATING

Song Xu; Bao Zewei; Zong Wen&#x02019;gang

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1842

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (2) : 768-775. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1842

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY CATALYTIC REFORMING OF ETHANOL WATER STEAM FROM SiC FOAM WITH DIRECT ELECTRICAL HEATING

Song Xu, Bao Zewei, Zong Wen’gang

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Abstract

This study employs numerical simulations to develop a model for an ethanol steam reforming reactor aimed at hydrogen production, featuring the direct electrical heating of a SiC foam catalyst carrier. The model investigates reactor performance under varying operating conditions, including inlet temperature, water-to-ethanol ratio, inlet flow rate, and electrical heating power, with ethanol conversionrate and reactant composition used as evaluation metrics. The results reveal that increasing inlet temperature and electrical heating power effectively raises the reaction temperature, thereby accelerating the reforming reaction. Specifically, ethanol conversionrate increases significantly from 95.5% to 98.2%, as the inlet temperature rises from 873.15 K to 1073.15 K. Similarly, boosting electrical heating power from 14 W to 24 W improves ethanol conversionrate from 94.6% to 98.9%. Furthermore, optimizing the water-to-ethanol ratio and reducing the inlet flow rate are also effective strategies for further enhancing ethanol conversion.

Key words

ethanol / steam reforming / numerical model / structured catalyst / SiC foam / joule effect

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Song Xu, Bao Zewei, Zong Wen’gang. NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY CATALYTIC REFORMING OF ETHANOL WATER STEAM FROM SiC FOAM WITH DIRECT ELECTRICAL HEATING[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(2): 768-775 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-1842

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