Hydrogen Production from Ethanol in Dielectric Barrier Bischarge

Abstract

A dielectric barrier discharge, which was produced in a reactor a grooved electrode, was applied in the production of hydrogen from a mixture of water and ethanol. The influence of power on ethanol conversion, energy yield, gas composition and production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ethylene and acetylene was studied. The substrates in a liquid phase were fed to the reactor. The energy required for heating and vaporizing the substrates was 9 to 11 times greater than the energy consumed in the chemical reactions. The highest ethanol conversion was 54%. It was obtained for the power of 30 W, but the energy efficiency was 3.72 mol (H2)/kWh. In contrast, the highest energy efficiency was 4.41 mole of (H2)/kWh. It was obtained for the power of 20 W, but the ethanol conversion was 44%.