Open AccessHydrogen production via aqueous-phase reforming for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells - a review
Author(s) -
Paranjeet Lakhtaria,
Paulo Ribeirinha,
Werneri Huhtinen,
Saara Viik,
José M. Sousa,
Adélio Mendes
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
open research europe
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2732-5121
DOI - 10.12688/openreseurope.13812.3
Subject(s) - steam reforming , hydrogen production , catalysis , methanol , hydrogen , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , chemical engineering , water gas shift reaction , methane reformer , aqueous solution , chemistry , carbon dioxide reforming , materials science , syngas , organic chemistry , engineering
Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) can convert methanol and other oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrogen and carbon dioxide at lower temperatures when compared with the corresponding gas phase process. APR favours the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction and inhibits alkane formation; moreover, it is a simpler and more energy efficient process compared to gas-phase steam reforming. For example, Pt-based catalysts supported on alumina are typically selected for methanol APR, due to their high activity at temperatures of circa 200°C. However, non-noble catalysts such as nickel (Ni) supported on metal-oxides or zeolites are being investigated with promising results in terms of catalytic activity and stability. The development of APR kinetic models and reactor designs is also being addressed to make APR a more attractive process for producing in situ hydrogen. This can also lead to the possibility of APR integration with high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The integration can result into increased overall system efficiency and avoiding critical issues faced in the state-of-the-art fuel cells integrated with methanol steam reforming.