ARPA advanced fuel cell development

Conference · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:209857

Dubois, L H

Fuel cell technology is currently being developed at the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) for several Department of Defense applications where its inherent advantages such as environmental compatibility, high efficiency, and low noise and vibration are overwhelmingly important. These applications range from man-portable power systems of only a few watts output (e.g., for microclimate cooling and as direct battery replacements) to multimegawatt fixed base systems. The ultimate goal of the ARPA program is to develop an efficient, low-temperature fuel cell power system that operates directly on a military logistics fuel (e.g., DF-2 or JP-8). The absence of a fuel reformer will reduce the size, weight, cost, and complexity of such a unit as well as increase its reliability. In order to reach this goal, ARPA is taking a two-fold, intermediate time-frame approach to: (1) develop a viable, low-temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell that operates directly on a simple hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., methanol or trimethoxymethane) and (2) demonstrate a thermally integrated fuel processor/fuel cell power system operating on a military logistics fuel. This latter program involves solid oxide (SOFC), molten carbonate (MCFC), and phosphoric acid (PAFC) fuel cell technologies and concentrates on the development of efficient fuel processors, impurity scrubbers, and systems integration. A complementary program to develop high performance, light weight H{sub 2}/air PEM and SOFC fuel cell stacks is also underway. Several recent successes of these programs will be highlighted.

• Research Organization: USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV (United States)
• OSTI ID: 209857
• Report Number(s): DOE/METC--95/1020; CONF-950886--; ON: DE96000554
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
FUEL CELLS
METHANOL
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
NOISE
POWER SYSTEMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCRUBBERS
SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
STACKS
WEIGHT