Reformers for the production of hydrogen from methanol and alternative fuels for fuel cell powered vehicles
The objective of this study was (i) to assess the present state of technology of reformers that convert methanol (or other alternative fuels) to a hydrogen-rich gas mixture for use in a fuel cell, and (ii) to identify the R D needs for developing reformers for transportation applications. Steam reforming and partial oxidation are the two basic types of fuel reforming processes. The former is endothermic while the latter is exothermic. Reformers are therefore typically designed as heat exchange systems, and the variety of designs used includes shell-and-tube, packed bed, annular, plate, and cyclic bed types. Catalysts used include noble metals and oxides of Cu, Zn, Cr, Al, Ni, and La. For transportation applications a reformer must be compact, lightweight, and rugged. It must also be capable of rapid start-up and good dynamic performance responsive to fluctuating loads. A partial oxidation reformer is likely to be better than a steam reformer based on these considerations, although its fuel conversion efficiency is expected to be lower than that of a steam reformer. A steam reformer better lends itself to thermal integration with the fuel cell system; however, the thermal independence of the reformer from the fuel cell stack is likely to yield much better dynamic performance of the reformer and the fuel cell propulsion power system. For both steam reforming and partial oxidation reforming, research is needed to develop compact, fast start-up, and dynamically responsive reformers. For transportation applications, steam reformers are likely to prove best for fuel cell/battery hybrid power systems, and partial oxidation reformers are likely to be the choice for stand-alone fuel cell power systems.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 7203815
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-92/31; ON: DE92019300
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
080103 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Steam Reformer Processes
080109 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Partial Oxidation Processes
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501 -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
300503 -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
ALCOHOLS
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM OXIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM OXIDES
METHANOL
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
REFORMER PROCESSES
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES