Internal Reforming Fuel Cell Research Articles

DIR-FCEV powered by different fuels – Part I: Well-to-wheel analysis for the Brazilian and Spanish contexts

This article describes the life cycle assessment of the Direct Internal Reforming Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (DIR-FCEV) for the Brazilian and Spanish contexts. This recently proposed vehicle technology produces hydrogen onboard via heat recovery, while the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and the gas turbine provide electricity to the electric motor with high overall efficiency. The exhaust gas emission was obtained via GASEQ software and the well-to-tank data were collected through literature search. These values were entered in the GREET Model software version v1.3.0.13656 to assess the negative environmental impacts of the DIR-FCEV in terms of global warming potential (GWP) and human toxicity potential (HTP). Using 1 km distance driven by a light-duty vehicle as the functional unit, the tank-to-wheel results indicate that regardless of the fuel, the DIR-FCEV achieved better than the internal combustion engine vehicle fuelled with gasoline A in both categories. Also, the DIR-FCEV powered by biomethane, gasoline A, gasoline C (73% gasoline A and 27% ethanol, in volume basis), glycerine, and ethanol attended all future tailpipe emissions standards stipulated by United States and European Union. Biomethane and gasoline-fuelled DIR-FCEV had more commendatory environmental performance in both countries. Thus, it is expected to obtain environmental indicators to stimulate the use of biofuels synergistically with the advancement of electromobility in Brazil and Spain.

Kinetics of methanol-steam reformation in an internal reforming fuel cell

A study of the kinetics of the methanol-steam reformation reaction within an idealized tube reactor and within a non-ideal internal reforming fuel cell (IRFC) was performed. Kinetic expressions were calculated from the reaction rate data obtained from the tube reactor by least squares fitting to general power law model, as well as to a mechanism-based model put forth by Peppley et al. [Appl. Catal. A 179 (1999) 21; Appl. Catal. A 179 (1999) 31] assuming isothermal plug flow behavior. Reaction rate data obtained from an IRFC with and without an H 3PO 4 containing membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was compared to the reaction rates predicted by the kinetic model. It was found that methanol conversion rates in the IRFC were significantly less than would be for an ideal plug flow reactor (PFR) with an equal amount of catalyst due to the non-ideal flow through the reactor bed. However, despite the non-ideal flow caused by the design compromises inherent in an IRFC and the resulting drop in effective catalyst activity, it was projected that for fuel cell systems with a current density greater than 400 mA cm −2, the IRFC would require less catalyst mass than a traditional system with external reformer. This is the result of an experimentally verified accelerated methanol conversion rate in the IRFC caused by the extraction of H 2 from the reforming reactor bed. Long-term stability of the IRFC due to acid leaching still needs to be addressed. Additionally, the extraction of H 2 from the reformer bed, which occurs in the IRFC, introduces concerns of failure due to coking.

Activity of NiAl2O4 Catalyst for Steam Reforming of Methane Under Internal Reforming Fuel Cell Conditions

A new candidate anode material has been investigated for high temperature internal reforming fuel cell applications. Our investigation covers its physical properties, catalyst activation kinetics and catalytic activity for methane steam reforming. This report concerns mainly the catalytic activity of this material. Methane steam reforming was carried out at latm pressure and in the temperature range of 600 - 900°C, which would be of interest for low-to-medium temperature IR-SOFC applications. It was found that the catalyst has good activity at ~800°C. The stability test was performed at 800°C, S/C = 2 and W/FCH4° = 0.1815 g-hr/mole. It was found that the catalyst was relatively stable in a 250-hr on-stream operation.