Self-sustained operation and durability testing of a 300 W-class micro-structured LPG fuel processor

A miniaturized fuel processor for LPG has been developed and put into operation as compact hydrogen supply system for low power applications. The fuel processor consists of an integrated micro-structured evaporator and a micro-structured reformer both integrated with micro-structured catalytic burne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of hydrogen energy 2011-03, Vol.36 (5), p.3496-3504
Main Authors: Wichert, Martin, Men, Yong, O’Connell, Martin, Tiemann, David, Zapf, Ralf, Kolb, Gunther, Butschek, Sven, Frank, Reinhard, Schiegl, Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative fuels. Production and utilization
Applied sciences
Catalysis
Catalysts
Durability
Energy
Evaporation
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel processor
Fuels
Hydrogen
Hydrogen production
LPG
LPG steam reforming
Micro-structured reactor
Microprocessors
Running
Steam electric power generation
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Summary:A miniaturized fuel processor for LPG has been developed and put into operation as compact hydrogen supply system for low power applications. The fuel processor consists of an integrated micro-structured evaporator and a micro-structured reformer both integrated with micro-structured catalytic burners, heat exchangers, and a micro-structured water–gas shift (WGS) stage. In the current paper, performance data of a coupled LPG steam reformer/catalytic burner are presented, which has been running stably over 1060 h with repeated start-up and shut-down cycles. On top of that, some performance data of complete LPG fuel processors will be shown, which have been operated up to 3500 h in combination with high temperature PEM fuel cell stacks. These fuel processing systems are capable to convert LPG with a nominal hydrogen production rate of 0.263 Nm 3 h −1. It could be demonstrated, that the micro-structured devices are not only compact but show also high reliability and durability. ► Several LPG fuel processors were operated between 1000 h and 3500 h. ► Complete conversion of propane was observed for all operating conditions. ► During all experiments a good mechanical stability was observed as well. ► Fifty fuel processors have been fabricated and tested in field trials until 2009.
ISSN:0360-3199
1879-3487
DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.12.045