Producción de hidrógeno mediante reformado de biogás con plasma – catálisis

Abstract

Large-scale electrical energy storage represents a challenge for technology, the production and use of hydrogen is considered as a possible solution. As a consequence of the objectives set by the European Union in the face of climate change, as well as the global interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need to investigate hydrogen production methods based on the use of renewable energy sources. In this work a study has been carried out in dry reforming of methane (DRM) for hydrogen production by plasma catalysis, using a dielectric barrier discharge type reactor (DBD). The experiments were carried out in the range of 10-30 W of power applied at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The results have been analyzed for experiments without the use of catalyst and using 5 catalysts Cu10, Cu10Mn5, Cu10Ce5, Cu10Fe5 and Cu10Ni5, all supported in alumina (Al2O3). Nominal inflows were 50 mL / min, composed of methane and carbon dioxide in a 1: 1 molar ratio. The reaction monitoring parameters were CH4 and CO2 conversion, H2, CO and C2H6 selectivity, energy efficiency and carbon balance. The highest conversion of CH4 was 21.3% and was achieved at 30 W of plasma power for the Cu-Ce catalyst. At the same power, the highest selectivity for hydrogen was 30.3% for the Cu catalyst. - Neither. The maximum energy efficiency was 0.165 mmol / kJ at 30 W plasma power for Cu catalyst, this value is slightly higher than that reported by other studies. The difference between the results obtained using catalysts and without the use of catalyst was not wide, an increase in the CH4 conversion of up to 2% and the CO2 conversion of up to 3.6% was evidenced.Despite not being one of the expected products C2H6, a 2% concentration was identified at 30W of power using the Cu-Mn catalyst, relatively lower values (1.99%) were obtained using Cu catalyst and without catalyst. This may open a new avenue of research due to the industrial interest of ethane.