Thermodynamic Analysis of Glycerol-Methane Steam Reforming to Hydrogen

Abstract

As the world strives for sustainable development, renewable energy emerged as one of the crucial energy resources for daily consumption. Hydrogen is well known as a new renewable source that is clean and regarded to be low cost. Hence, the method to produce hydrogen in the cleanest way is in pursuit. Thermodynamic modelling using Gibbs free energy minimization is widely used in predicting various products including hydrogen. In this study, steam reforming reaction of methane combined with glycerol, a co-product from biodiesel production was performed to determine the hydrogen production trend as well as other possible products (CO, CO2, C, CH4, C2H4 and C2H6. The equilibrium composition was determined at reaction temperatures 573 K-1,273 K, pressure 1-5 bars and molar ratios glycerol-methane-steam (GMS) 1:1:1 – 12:1:1, 1:3:1- 1:12:1, 1:1:3 – 1:1:12. The optimum process parameters for H2 production was attained at 1,023 K with 1 bar pressure and the molar ratios for GMS at 1:1:1. It was discovered that greater GMS ratio instantly reduced the formation of hydrogen. The knowledge from the thermodynamic analysis of glycerol-methane steam reforming is a great method to aim for highest hydrogen yield and at the same time lowering the tendency of coking process that could poison the catalyst.