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Miniature Fuel Processors for Portable Fuel Cell Power Supplies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

Jamie Holladay
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Evan Jones
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Daniel R. Palo
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Max Phelps
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Ya-Huei Chin
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Robert Dagle
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Jianli Hu
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Yong Wang
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
Ed Baker
Affiliation:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, PO Box 999, K8–93, Richland WA 99352, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Miniature and microscale fuel processors that incorporate novel catalysts and microtechnology-based designs are discussed. The novel catalyst allows for methanol reforming at high gas hourly space velocities of 50,000 hr-1 or higher while maintaining a carbon monoxide levels at 1% or less. The microtechnology-based designs extremely compact and lightweight devices. The miniature fuel processors, with a volume less than 25 cm3, a mass less than 200 grams, and thermal efficiencies of up to 83%, nominally provide 25 to 50 watts equivalent of hydrogen, which is ample for the portable power supplies described here. With reasonable assumptions on fuel cell efficiencies, anode gas and water management, parasitic power loss, the energy density was estimated at 1700 Whr/kg. These processors have been demonstrated with a CO cleanup method and a fuel cell stack. The microscale fuel processors, with a volume of less than 0.25 cm3 and a mass of less than 1 gram, are designed to provide up to 0.3 watt equivalent of power with efficiencies over 20%.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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References

REFERENCES

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