Autothermal reforming of gasoline for fuel cell applications: Controller design and analysis

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 182; no. 1; pp. 298 - 306
• Main Authors: Hu, Yongyou, Chmielewski, Donald J., Papadias, Dennis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.07.2008; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: 02 PETROLEUM; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; Applied sciences; Autothermal reforming; Control systems; Control theory; DESIGN; Disturbances; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Feed-forward control; Feedback; Feedback control; FUEL CELLS; Fuels; GASOLINE; Microprocessors; Reforming; Feedback control; Feed-forward control; Fuel cells; Autothermal reforming; Measurement; Control system; Autothermal reformer processes; Performance; Hydrogen fuel cells; Catalyst; Hydrogen production; Fuel cells;Autothermal reforming;Feedback control;Feed-forward control; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.03.041

In this work, we address the control system options available to an autothermal reforming (ATR) reactor. The targeted application is within an on-board fuel processor for a hydrogen-fed low-temperature fuel cell. The feedback controller employs air feed rate as the manipulated variable and a measurement of catalyst temperature as the control variable. Disturbances include significant fluctuations in the measured temperature as well as large throughput changes, owning to the on-board application. Our investigation includes an analysis of a simple feedback configuration as well as feed-forward control structure. It is concluded that the feedback only method is insufficient for the unique challenges associated with on-board operation, which include fast start-up and quick load changes. While the feed-forward configuration improves performance, we found a fair amount of sensitivity with respect to model mismatch. The general conclusion is that some form of advanced control will be needed to meet the stringent performance requirements of the on-board fuel processor application.