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Methanol reformers for fuel cell powered vehicles [electronic resource] : Some design considerations.

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Bibliographic Details
Online Access: Online Access
Corporate Author: Argonne National Laboratory (Researcher)
Format: Government Document Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: Argonne, Ill. : Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Argonne National Lab ; distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy, 1990.
Subjects:
Catalysts.
Design.
Thermochemical Processes.
Organic Compounds.
Functions.
Dissociation.
Catalytic Reforming.
Direct Energy Converters.
Hydrogen Production.
Transition Element Compounds.
Oxygen Compounds.
Energy Transfer.
Electric-powered Vehicles.
Weight.
Start-up.
Methanol.
Fuel Cell Power Plants.
Vehicles.
Cost.
Copper Oxides.
Power Plants.
Reformer Processes.
Chemical Reactors.
Fuel Cells.
Construction.
Zinc Oxides.
Steam Reformer Processes.
Hydroxy Compounds.
Alcohols.
Partial Oxidation Processes.
Heat Transfer.
Copper Compounds.
Chemical Reactions.
Operation.
Oxides.
Alcohol Fuel Cells.
Response Functions.
Size.
Electrochemical Cells.
Zinc Compounds.
Chalcogenides.
Direct Energy Conversion.
Description
Abstract:Fuel cells are being developed for use in automotive propulsion systems as alternatives for the internal combustion engine in buses, vans, passenger cars. The two most important operational requirements for a stand-alone fuel cell power system for a vehicle are the ability to start up quickly and the ability to supply the necessary power on demand for the dynamically fluctuating load. Methanol is a likely fuel for use in fuel cells for transportation applications. It is a commodity chemical that is manufactured from coal, natural gas, and other feedstocks. For use in a fuel cell, however, the methanol must first be converted (reformed) to a hydrogen-rich gas mixture. The desired features for a methanol reformer include rapid start-up, good dynamic response, high fuel conversion, small size and weight, simple construction and operation, and low cost. In this paper the present the design considerations that are important for developing such a reformer, namely: (1) a small catalyst bed for quick starting, small size, and low weight; (2) multiple catalysts for optimum operation of the dissociation and reforming reactions; (3) reforming by direct heat transfer partial oxidation for rapid response to fluctuating loads; and (4) thermal independence from the rest of the fuel cell system. 10 refs., 1 fig.
Item Description:Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information.
01/01/1990.
"conf-901106-3"
"DE91006465"
Fuel cell seminar, Phoenix, AZ (USA), 26-28 Nov 1990.
Kumar, R.; Ahmed, S.; Krumpelt, M.; Myles, K.M.
DOE/FE.
Physical Description:Pages: (5 p) : digital, PDF file.

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