High-Efficiency Microscale Power Using a Fuel Processor and Fuel Cell
- BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
The development of a microscale power device, composed of a fuel processor and a fuel cell, is discussed. The microscale fuel reformer strips hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel such as methanol. The hydrogen rich stream can be fed to a fuel cell to generate electrical power. The numerous unit operations required for this device are discussed and a design incorporating these operations on the micro scale is developed and tested. The fuel reformer, utilizing methanol as the fuel, was able to provide 100 mWe of hydrogen at an efficiency of up to 4.5%. As the equivalent power of the reformer was decreased the reformer efficiency also decreased. The device was able to operate without any additional external heating. Also, a start-up procedure, which does not require electrical heating, is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15001587
- Report Number(s):
- PNWD-SA-5471; TRN: US200406%%77
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: MEMS Components and Applications for Industry, Automobiles, Aerospace, and Communications, San Francisco, CA (US), 01/25/2003--01/31/2003; Other Information: PBD: 1 Jan 2002
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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