Conceptual design of an integrated thermally self-sustained methanol steam reformer

high-temperature PEM fuel cell stack manportable power generator

Andrej Lotrič (Author), Mihael Sekavčnik (Author), Andrej Pohar (Author), Blaž Likozar (Author), Stanko Hočevar (Author)

Abstract

We have investigated the concept of an integrated system for small, manportable power units. The focus of this study is the direct thermal coupling of a methanol steam reformer (MSR) and a high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT PEMFC) stack. A recently developed low-temperature (LT) MSR catalyst (CuZnGaOx) was synthesized and tested in a designed reforming reactor. The experimental data show that at 200 °C the complete conversion of methanol is achievable with a hydrogen yield of 45 cm3 min-1 gCAT -1 . An experimental setup for measuring the characteristics of the integrated system was designed and used to measure the characteristics of the two-cell HT PEMFC stack. The obtained kinetic parameters and the HT PEMFC stack characteristics were used in the modeling of the integrated system. The simulations confirmed that the integrated LT MSR/ HT PEMFC stack system, which also includes a vaporizer, can achieve a thermally selfsustained working point. The base-case scenario, established on experimental data, predicts a power output of 8.5 W, a methanol conversion of 98.5%, and a gross electrical efficiency (based on the HHV) of the system equal to 21.7%. However, by implementing certain measures, the power output and the electrical efficiency can readily be raised to 11.1 W and 35.5%, respectively.

Keywords

gorivne celice;protonsko prevodne membrane;procesorji goriva;parni reformerji metanola;toplotno integrirani sistemi;modeliranje energetskih sistemov;fuell cells;proton exchange membranes;fuel processors;methanol steam reforming;heat integrated systems;energy systems modeling;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2017
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
UDC:	[620.9:66]:502.174.3
COBISS:	15546139
ISSN:	0360-3199
Views:	472
Downloads:	188
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	gorivne celice;protonsko prevodne membrane;procesorji goriva;parni reformerji metanola;toplotno integrirani sistemi;modeliranje energetskih sistemov;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Embargo end date (OpenAIRE):	2019-06-12
Pages:	str. 16700-16713
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ42
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ26
Chronology:	Jun. 2017
DOI:	10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.057
ID:	12797286