A Methanol Steam Micro-Reformer for Low Power Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

Abstract A micro-reformer was fabricated and its performance investigated using copper-zinc catalysts with differing compositions and loadings at various operating conditions. A catalyst with 3:1 copper-to-zinc ratio and 8 wt% loading produced enough hydrogen to power a 28W PEM fuel cell when using a third of the reformer's volume (8 cm3) and assuming 64% fuel cell efficiency. Methanol conversion was 65% while hydrogen content in the off-gas was 45% at a temperature of 275°C and residence time of 0.11s. Carbon monoxide levels were approximately 1.45%. Higher methanol conversions (80%) and hydrogen content in the off-gas (50%) were achieved by a second catalyst with 16 wt% at 290°C while utilizing the entire reformer volume. Hydrogen yield and selectivity were high (78 and 98% respectively). Extrapolating from present results, the maximum power output possible to be achieved by this device is 84 W.