Miniature Fuel Processors for Portable Fuel Cell Power Supplies
- BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
- Cathy; BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
Miniature and micro-scale fuel processors are discussed. The enabling technologies for these devices are the novel catalysts and the micro-technology-based designs. The novel catalyst allows for methanol reforming at high gas hourly space velocities of 50,000 hr-1 or higher, while maintaining a carbon monoxide levels at 1% or less. The micro-technology-based designs enable the devices to be extremely compact and lightweight. The miniature fuel processors can nominally provide between 25-50 watts equivalent of hydrogen which is ample for soldier or personal portable power supplies. The integrated processors have a volume less than 50 cm3, a mass less than 150 grams, and thermal efficiencies of up to 83%. With reasonable assumptions on fuel cell efficiencies, anode gas and water management, parasitic power loss, etc., the energy density was estimated at 1700 Whr/kg. The miniature processors have been demonstrated with a carbon monoxide clean-up method and a fuel cell stack. The micro-scale fuel processors have been designed to provide up to 0.3 watt equivalent of power with efficiencies over 20%. They have a volume of less than 0.25 cm3 and a mass of less than 1 gram.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15004443
- Report Number(s):
- PNWD-SA-5862; TRN: US201015%%629
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Solid State Ionics--2002 : Symposium held December 2-5, 2002, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. / Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 756(429-434 ; Materials Research Society,Warrendale, ,United States.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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