Unicamp researchers develop microreactor capable of transforming ethanol into hydrogen

Unicamp researchers have developed a small reactor that can transform ethanol into hydrogen for electric cars, which could boost the domestic electric market.

Focusing on sustainability and advancement in the implementation of electric cars, at the end of last month, researchers from Campinas State University (Unicamp) patented a compact chemical reactor, microreactor, or even microreformer, generated by 3D printing that can transform ethanol into hydrogen. One of the objectives of developing a reduced-size reformer is for it to be embedded within the fuel cell itself.

Project to transform ethanol into hydrogen can be scaled

In this way, it would be possible to develop modular cells, produced in large scale always with the same standard, instead of using different models of cells and reformers for each model. For example, while eletric cars compact passenger cars use only one cell, an average SUV would use two and a commercial vehicle, such as a minibus or medium pickup, three.

According to the professors at Unicamp's Faculty of Chemical Engineering who are leading the project to transform ethanol into hydrogen, the intention is to make the project viable on an industrial scale, as an alternative to the use of fuel cells with pressurized hydrogen, whose adaptation costs and storage can be prohibitive in a country like Brazil.

According to the FEQ Unicamp researcher, Rubens Maciel Filho, it is the production of hydrogen onboard electric cars from ethanol. This hydrogen can feed the fuel cells, enabling the inclusion of electric cars and mitigating the emission of CO₂ into the atmosphere in a cheaper and easier way, using technology developed in Brazil.

Unicamp professors admit that the conversion of ethanol into hydrogen, in itself, generates a carbon residue, but point out that such emissions can be zeroed if the entire agro-industrial chain is considered. 

Volkswagen tries to make the technology viable

One of the most suggested options for the process of inserting electric cars in the national market is the use of ethanol as a source of conversion to hydrogen and, later, electric energy.

Even Volkswagen has been trying to make the technology viable, which has the advantage of the prior existence of a supply infrastructure with fuel derived from sugarcane. In addition, ethanol technology also eliminates the need for large battery banks, given that the electric motor is powered directly by the cell.

As Brazil does not produce batteries on a large scale, and the production of these components still causes great damage to the environment, the solution using ethanol may be one of the most efficient available in reality.

According to Maciel Filho, the carbon generated by the technology does not come from a fossil source, as is the case with hydrogen generated from natural gas. It is a reversible process, as it is captured back by the sugarcane when it expands.

Unicamp technology has the dimensions of a smartphone

In the case of the project patented by the Unicamp researchers, the prototype is similar in size to a smartphone and its core is just 5 cm long.

According to the project's chief researcher, these characteristics improve the efficiency and control of reactions in electric cars when compared with common reactors.

The plates are made by 3D printers dedicated to the use of metals, following industry 4.0 guidelines. In this way, it generates greater topological and design optimization, according to the project, or even faster production of new prototypes.