Fuel processing in integrated micro-structured heat-exchanger reactors

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2007-09, Vol.171 (1), p.198-204
• Main Authors: Kolb, G., Schürer, J., Tiemann, D., Wichert, M., Zapf, R., Hessel, V., Löwe, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Catalyst coatings; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel processing; Fuels; Hydrogen; Micro-structured reactors; Plate heat-exchanger reactors
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.01.006

Micro-structured fuel processors are under development at IMM for different fuels such as methanol, ethanol, propane/butane (LPG), gasoline and diesel. The target application are mobile, portable and small scale stationary auxiliary power units (APU) based upon fuel cell technology. The key feature of the systems is an integrated plate heat-exchanger technology which allows for the thermal integration of several functions in a single device. Steam reforming may be coupled with catalytic combustion in separate flow paths of a heat-exchanger. Reactors and complete fuel processors are tested up to the size range of 5 kW power output of a corresponding fuel cell. On top of reactor and system prototyping and testing, catalyst coatings are under development at IMM for numerous reactions such as steam reforming of LPG, ethanol and methanol, catalytic combustion of LPG and methanol, and for CO clean-up reactions, namely water-gas shift, methanation and the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide. These catalysts are investigated in specially developed testing reactors. In selected cases 1000 h stability testing is performed on catalyst coatings at weight hourly space velocities, which are sufficiently high to meet the demands of future fuel processing reactors.