Introduction
In the adsorption-membrane hybrid system for ethanol steam reforming: Thermodynamics analysis by Dang, Amornchai, Yaneeporn, and Suttichai, (2011, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy), the authors seek to explain how an adsorption-membrane hybrid system, which uses a carbon (IV) oxide as an adsorbent can be used to eliminate unwanted carbon (IV) oxide in the hydrogen separation process. The authors aimed at improving the ethanol steam reforming performance through comparison of thermodynamic analysis that comprised of adsorptive, as well as membrane reactor. Then the authors were able to find that membrane separation process for the hydrogen removal had a higher impact on the performance of the reformer as compared to the use of the adsorption by carbon (IV) oxide capture. This article is rhetorically effective because the authors have shown through numerous rhetorical devices that membrane separation had a higher impact on the performance of the ethanol steam reforming as compared to the adsorption process of carbon (IV) oxide.
Context
This article presents the removal of the unwanted carbon (IV) oxide in the ethanol steam reforming using two methods, namely; membrane hybrid system, and carbon (IV) oxide adsorbent method. The fuel processor has three reactions, namely; dry reforming, steaming reforming, and partial oxidation, and all these three reactions are capable of reforming ethanol to hydrogen gas (Dang, Amornchai, Yaneeporn & Suttichai 14428). The authors are keen in the elimination of the unwanted carbon (IV) oxide, and they have resorted to two methods, that is, membrane hybrid system, and carbon (IV) oxide adsorptive reactor. The use of membrane hybrid system for the separation of the unwanted carbon (IV) oxide is an interesting alternative as compared to the adsorptive reactor option, and the two methods have been in existence for quite long. However, both methods have been successfully applied in the elimination process and they have yielded desirable results. The membrane hybrid system has shown good results when it comes to production of pure hydrogen. The membrane hybrid system mixes carbon (IV) oxide with catalysts responsible for steam reforming in a given membrane reactor. The membrane separates the hydrogen, whereas the carbon (IV) oxide is removed through adsorption.
Among fuels known on the energy market, ethanol is seen as an attractive fuel since its “green” qualities: it means that ethanol can be reproduced from a number of other existent biomass sources, and these include energy factories, organic waste, and not only separate waste materials, but also forestry materials.
Bio
Call to write
Angle of vision
The four authors are inclined to the adsorption-membrane system, as compared to the adsorption by carbon (IV) oxide method. The membrane hybrid system has been magnified by the authors, thereby making the reader believe that it is the only better method even before reading the text written by the authors. Besides, the summary given by the authors suggests that it is the best option, and more attention is given to it right from the beginning. This is the light that the authors want the readers to see because the comparative method has been overshadowed.
Audience
Both the authors, as well as the audiences are science oriented, therefore, they share a cordial relationship because they tend to synchronize with the text. The intended audience as stated earlier is science readers because the information, as well as the chemical equations in the paper can only be understood by science readers and not readers from other departments, for example, humanities. The authors have addressed more than one group of readers because the first group is the engineering readers; however, chemistry, and physic readers are also being addressed. This is because thermodynamics is a topic that is found in other disciplines such as physics and chemistry. Yes, the authors are trying to bring the audience into the understanding of the concept either from the point of unknown to known. The authors assume that all the readers are capable of understanding the concepts presented in the article.
Logos
One of the main arguments that the authors are making is that the membrane separation process for the hydrogen removal had a higher impact on the performance of the reformer as compared to the use of the adsorption by carbon (IV) oxide capture. The authors use equations to drive their point home, for example,
. (I)
The above equation has two co-efficient, that is, r and f where r represents hydrogen fraction, while f represent the carbon fraction removed by the membrane hybrid system.
.. (II)
Equation two above represents the decrease of the gas phase species from the ethanol reforming process under the application of the membrane hybrid method. The evidence of equations that support the removal of the unwanted carbon (iv) oxide provide a perfect, believable evidence, and the equations are quite persuasive.
Pathos
Pathos may refer to any form or quality capable of evoking emotion such as sadness, as well as, pity. The use of pathos is missing in the article because the point expressed by the authors is very clear due to the numerous equations presented; hence there is no need of creating sadness or any other emotion for the purposes of convincing the reader. Scientific papers require scientific proofs, and that is the reason why the pathos is missing in this context.
Discourse community
The discourse communities which are part of this article as stated earlier are physics, as well as chemistry members. Even though the article was directed towards engineering audiences, the groups from chemistry, as well as physics form part of this community because thermodynamics is a shared disciple across the board. One example of jargon from the field of physics is as shown below;
(III)
The above jargon represents the Boudouard reaction equation application in the heat capacity equation from physics.
Source (Dang, Amornchai, Yaneeporn & Suttichai 14430)
The above graph represents Molar flow rate against temperature in the Kelvin scale. Temperature is a basic unit in physics and it is measured in the S.I unit, that is, Kelvin scale. Besides, the mass flow rate employs Reynolds equation during its derivation, and Reynolds equation is found in physics. The jargons from chemistry is numerous in the article, for example,
. (iv)
The above listed equations are found in the enthalpy change, as well as reversible reaction equations. Numerous equilibrium equations have also been presented in the article, and the equations are similar to the enthalpy equilibrium equations applicable in chemistry. The authors are using this jargon to prove to the reader that the membrane hybrid method is still the best option. The choice of words indicated shows that the authors assume that all the readers are science oriented readers. A bigger portion of the language used by the authors is in line with the discourse community members. The authors have used IEEE citation style, and this citation is appropriate since it is meant for engineering papers and articles.
Conclusion
The article is rhetorically effective because the arguments of the authors have been scientifically proven. The main argument that the authors are making is that the membrane separation process for the hydrogen removal had a higher impact on the performance of the reformer as compared to the use of the adsorption by carbon (IV) oxide capture. The authors were able to accomplish their purpose because at the end of the article, every reader is convinced that the membrane hybrid system is the better option. The use of the chemical equations has persuaded the reader into understanding the comparative levels of the two methods presented in the article. This article is of above average value since, rhetorically, the main argument has been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Work cited
Dang, Saebea; Amornchai, Arpornwichanop; Yaneeporn, Patcharavorachot & Suttichai,
Assabumrungrat. Adsorption-membrane hybrid system for ethanol steam reforming: Thermodynamic analysis. International journal of hydrogen energy 36 (2011) 14428 e14434
