New, efficient and viable system for ethanol fuel utilization on combined electric/internal combustion engine vehicles

JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES

卷:294

Article

Sato, Andre G.¹  Silva, Gabriel C. D.²  Paganin, Valdecir A.²  Biancolli, Ana L. G.²  Ticianelli, Edson A.² 

[1] Univ Fed Vicosa, Dept Chem, BR-36570000 Vicosa, MG, Brazil

[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Phys Chem, IQSC, Ave Trabalhador Saocarlense 400, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil

关键词: Ethanol;    Hydrogen;    Fuel cell;    Hybrid vehicle;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.06.086

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Although ethanol can be directly employed as fuel on polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC), its low oxidation kinetics in the anode and the crossover to the cathode lead to a substantial reduction of energy conversion efficiency. However, when fuel cell driven vehicles are considered, the system may include an on board steam reformer for converting ethanol into hydrogen, but the hydrogen produced contains carbon monoxide, which limits applications in PEMFCs. Here, we present a system consisting of an ethanol dehydrogenation catalytic reactor for producing hydrogen, which is supplied to a PEMFC to generate electricity for electric motors. A liquid by-product effluent from the reactor can be used as fuel for an integrated internal combustion engine, or catalytically recycled to extract more hydrogen molecules. Power densities comparable to those of a PEMFC operating with pure hydrogen are attained by using the hydrogen rich stream produced by the ethanol dehydrogenation reactor. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free