Methanol reformers for fuel cell powered vehicles: Some design considerations

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6338713

Kumar, R; Ahmed, S; Krumpelt, M; Myles, K M

Fuel cells are being developed for use in automotive propulsion systems as alternatives for the internal combustion engine in buses, vans, passenger cars. The two most important operational requirements for a stand-alone fuel cell power system for a vehicle are the ability to start up quickly and the ability to supply the necessary power on demand for the dynamically fluctuating load. Methanol is a likely fuel for use in fuel cells for transportation applications. It is a commodity chemical that is manufactured from coal, natural gas, and other feedstocks. For use in a fuel cell, however, the methanol must first be converted (reformed) to a hydrogen-rich gas mixture. The desired features for a methanol reformer include rapid start-up, good dynamic response, high fuel conversion, small size and weight, simple construction and operation, and low cost. In this paper the present the design considerations that are important for developing such a reformer, namely: (1) a small catalyst bed for quick starting, small size, and low weight; (2) multiple catalysts for optimum operation of the dissociation and reforming reactions; (3) reforming by direct heat transfer partial oxidation for rapid response to fluctuating loads; and (4) thermal independence from the rest of the fuel cell system. 10 refs., 1 fig.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6338713
• Report Number(s): CONF-901106-3; ON: DE91006465
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080103 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Steam Reformer Processes
080109 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Partial Oxidation Processes
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
ALCOHOLS
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CONSTRUCTION
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
COST
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
FUNCTIONS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHANOL
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
POWER PLANTS
REFORMER PROCESSES
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SIZE
START-UP
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES
WEIGHT
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES