Model predictive control for ethanol steam reformers with membrane separation. (26th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Serra, Maria; Ocampo-Martinez, Carlos; Li, Mingming; Llorca, Jordi
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 42:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 1949
• Page End: 1961
• Publication Date: 2017-01-26
• Subjects: Ethanol steam reformer -- Staged-separation membrane reactor -- Control-oriented model -- Linear model predictive control; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.10.110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: This paper focuses on the dynamic modelling and the predictive control of an ethanol steam reformer (ESR) with PdAg membrane separation stage for the generation of pure hydrogen. Hydrogen purity necessary to feed a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is required. A non-linear dynamic model of the ESR is developed together with a procedure for adjusting the model parameters in order to fit a bank of experimental data of a real ESR system. Static and dynamic analysis of the non-linear ESR model is presented. From this non-linear model, a linear, reduced order and discretised model is derived and a model predictive controller (LMPC) is designed for the ESR system. Control objectives are pure hydrogen flowrate tracking and ethanol inlet minimization. Comparisons between the non-linear and linear models are carried out to determine the control constraints. Finally, simulation results for the implemented LMPC controller are presented and discussed. Highlights: Dynamic modelling of an ethanol steam reformer with separation membrane. Fitting of the model parameters with experimental data. Design of a linear model predictive controller for the control of the pure hydrogen outflow. Simulation results of the controlled system operating around a nominal operating point.