Low-level CO in hydrogen-rich gas supplied by a methanol processor for PEMFCs

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 66; no. 21; pp. 5095 - 5106
• Main Authors: Chen, Cheng-Chun, Jeng, Ming-Shan, Leu, Chih-Hsing, Yang, Chang-Chung, Lin, Yu-Li, King, Shun-Chih, Wu, Shu-Yii
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon monoxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic combustion; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; electric power; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Flow rate; Fuel; Fuel cells; General and physical chemistry; Hydrogen; methanol; Methanol reforming; Methyl alcohol; Microprocessors; oxidation; Reaction engineering; Reactors; steam; Steam electric power generation; temperature; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Catalytic combustion; Catalysis; Hydrogen; Methanol reforming; Reaction engineering; Fuel; Catalytic reaction; Water vapor; Supported catalyst; Oxidation; Steam reforming; Reactor; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2011.07.002

The present study developed a low-CO methanol processor for the online supply of hydrogen to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) composed of a steam reformer, a catalytic combustor and a reactor for the removal of CO. Commercial Cu/ZnO/Al 2O 3- and Pt/Al 2O 3-based catalysts were used in the methanol steam reforming and the preferential oxidation (PROX) reactor, respectively. The steam reformer was successfully heated with a catalytic combustor at room temperature without any additional electrical power supply. Hydrogen gas was obtained at a flow rate of 43.0 L h −1 using a feed flow rate of 39.5 ml h −1 (S/C=1.1) and an operation temperature of 250 °C, corresponding to a power output of 59 W e. The CO concentration could be maintained at 4–5 ppm for stable operation. ► Low-CO methanol processor produces hydrogen on demand to a PEM fuel cell. ► The CO concentration could be maintained at 4–5 ppm for stable operation. ► Hydrogen gas was obtained at a flow rate of 43.0 L h −1, which corresponds to a power output of 59 We.