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A highly integrated micro fuel processor based on methanol steam reforming was developed for a 30 W HT-PEM fuel cell, achieving a hybrid system with an accumulator for golf-caddies.

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What they did

System
MFC

What worked

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Abstract

Within the scope of a German cooperative project a consortium with partners from industry and academia develops a Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell System (RMFC) on the basis of a HT-PEM fuel cell with an electric power output of 30 W. The fuel cell system is used as a hybrid system with an accumulator as an energy supply for golf-caddies. The Steam Reforming of Methanol (SRM) is applied for hydrogen production in a micro-structured reactor which is built on the basis of thin hydroformed metal sheets. An innovative heat exchanger design allows the integration of all relevant fuel processing steps (catalytic combustion, vaporization, reforming, heat exchange) into a single component and also the integration with the HT-PEM fuel cell as such. The fuel processor was tested with different types of catalysts (base metal, precious metal). It turns out that among the catalysts tested a precious metal catalyst has the best stability and performance.

Key findings

  • Precious metal catalysts show better stability and performance compared to base metal catalysts in the steam reforming process.
  • A micro-structured reactor built on thin hydroformed metal sheets is used for hydrogen production.
  • An innovative heat exchanger design integrates all relevant fuel processing steps into a single component.

Keywords

Steam reformingProton exchange membrane fuel cellHeat exchangerHydrogen fuelHydrogen fuel enhancementProcess engineering

Identifiers

DOI
10.1149/1.3429023
Journal
ECS Transactions
Year
2010