Hydrogen generation from steam reforming of ethanol in dielectric barrier discharge

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used for the generation of hydrogen from ethanol reforming. Effects of reaction conditions, such as vaporization temperature, ethanol flow rate, water/ethanol ratio, and addition of oxygen, on the ethanol conversion and hydrogen yield, were studied. The results showed that the increase of ethanol flow rate decreased ethanol conversion and hydrogen yield, and high water/ethanol ratio and addition of oxygen were advantageous. Ethanol conversion and hydrogen yield increased with the vaporization room temperature up to the maximum at first, and then decreased slightly. The maximum hydrogen yield of 31.8% was obtained at an ethanol conversion of 88.4% under the optimum operation conditions of vaporization room temperature of 120°C, ethanol flux of 0.18 mL/min, water/ethanol ratio of 7.7 and oxygen volume concentration of 13.3%.