Design and Control of an Integrated Bio-Ethanol Processor with PEMFC

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this chapter is to present the important aspects of the synthesis of an integrated bio-ethanol processor plant for hydrogen production with proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. It is based on performing a proper energy integration to determine the operating point of maximum efficiency. A large review about the different techniques for obtaining hydrogen from bio-ethanol is investigated to justify the selection of a process based on steam reforming, followed by high- and low-temperature shift reactors and preferential oxidation, coupled to a fuel cell. Applying simulation techniques with HYSYS commercial software and using its specific thermodynamic models, the performance of the complete system has been evaluated for a variety of operating conditions. These models involve mass and energy balances, chemical equilibrium and feasible heat transfer conditions. The main operating points of the variables were determined for those conditions where the endothermic nature of the reformer has a significant effect on the overall system efficiency. Then, a heuristic procedure for defining a preliminary control structure is applied via a sensitivity analysis, evaluating controllability aspects for the most critical disturbances and considering the main objectives of the process.KeywordsFuel CellProton Exchange Membrane Fuel CellFeed Flow RateFuel Cell SystemHigh Heating ValueThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.