MULTI-FUEL PROCESSOR FOR PORTABLE POWER

The quiet operation and high efficiency of fuel cells provide an ideal solution for portable electric power generation for a wide range of military and commercial applications. A compact and efficient fuel processor that provides hydrogen from multiple types of liquid fuels will allow fuel cell technology to be realized in military and commercial markets. The overall program objective is to design a portable, high energy source with fuel flexible capability that reduces the weight burden and improves supply logistics for the dismounted soldier. During the Phase I project InnovaTek utilized its experience in catalytic fuel processing to develop catalysts and a prototype micro structured reforming reactor and successfully demonstrated the conversion of multiple fuel types, including JP-8, diesel, and renewable fuels, to hydrogen. The prototype fuel processor was integrated with an UltraCell high temperature PEM micro-fuel cell in a bench top system that was used to generate 500 W electricity from JP-8, thereby proving feasibility of InnovaTek"s design. The design has a specific energy of 90.5 W-hr/kg for a 4-hr run-time. During Phase II InnovaTek will further optimize the system design for low weight and high efficiency and deliver a TRL4 prototype to the Army for demonstration.