A complete miniaturized microstructured methanol fuel processor/fuel cell system for low power applications

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 1374 - 1382
• Main Authors: Men, Yong, Kolb, Gunther, Zapf, Ralf, Tiemann, David, Wichert, Martin, Hessel, Volker, Löwe, Holger
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Fuel processor; Hydrogen production; Methanol steam reforming; Microstructured reactor; Microstructured reactor; Methanol steam reforming; Hydrogen production; Fuel processor; Temperature effect; Alcohol fuel cells; Oxidation; Steam reforming; Microstructure; Performance; Catalyst activity; Methanol
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2007.12.024

A complete miniaturized methanol fuel processor/fuel cell system was developed and put into operation as compact hydrogen supplier for low power application. The whole system consisting of a micro-structured evaporator, a micro-structured reformer and two stages of preferential oxidation of CO (PROX) reactor, micro-structured catalytic burner, and fuel cell was operated to evaluate the performance of the whole production line from methanol to electricity. The performance of micro methanol steam reformer and PROX reactor was systematically investigated. The effect of reaction temperature, steam to carbon ratio, and contact time on the methanol steam reformer performance is presented in terms of catalytic activity, selectivity, and reformate yield. The performance of PROX reactor fed with the reformate produced by the reformer reactor was evaluated by the variation of reaction temperature and oxygen to CO ratio. The results demonstrate that micro-structured device may be an attractive power source candidate for low power application.