52
Sorption-Reaction
System for Reformate Purification--Aspen Systems, Inc., 184 Cedar Hill Street, Marlboro, MA
01752-3017; 508-481-5058
Dr.
Mark D. Fokema, Principal Investigator, fokema@aspensystems.com
Dr.
Kang P. Lee, Business Official, klee@aspensystems.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-00ER82952
Amount:
$700,000
In
order to use conventional fuels in fuel cells, the fuel must be converted to a
hydrogen-rich reformate. High
levels of carbon monoxide in the reformate poison the fuel cell anode catalyst
and degrade fuel cell performance. A
method is sought by which to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration to less
than ten parts per million, while not decreasing the hydrogen content of the
reformate. This project will
develop a novel absorption and shift reactor that will react CO with H2O
to produce CO2 and H2 while absorbing one of the
components in a sorbent material. The
resultant device will be regenerable, compact, requires little control and
raises the hydrogen content of the reformate.
High capacity regenerable sorbents were developed in Phase I and
integrated with catalytic materials in a small-scale reactor.
Continuous CO removal to less than 10 ppm was demonstrated.
A 1 kWe system was designed and system specifications and costs were
estimated. In Phase II, further
development of the advanced materials will be pursued in order to reduce system
size and cost. A 1 kWe standalone
prototype will be constructed and tested to determine its efficiency and
robustness. Long-term operation of
a 1 kWe PEM fuel cell operating on the effluent from this prototype will be
demonstrated.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: A reformate purification
device with the above characteristics would have wide-ranging applicability to
hydrogen fuel processors for stationary and mobile fuel cells.
This low-cost device offers the potential for improved fuel cell
efficiencies compared to conventional carbon monoxide removal processes.