A Non-Catalytic Fuel Flexible Reformer

The proposed SBIR Phase I program will develop an innovative fuel flexible reformer for a portable Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power generation system used in the battlefields. The fuel reformer is non-catalytic and can operate with different fuels including methanol, propane, and JP fuels, without suffering catalyst degradation common to catalytic-based fuel reformers. The impurities in the fuel (i.e., sulfur compounds) will be converted into hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during the reforming process, and then removed by a metal oxide based sorbent that can operate at the same temperature range as the SOFC. This avoids the need for cooling the reformate gas prior to desulfurization. By eliminating the need to cool and then reheat the reformate gas, the system overall size and weight can be decreased and system efficiency increased. Consequently, the proposed reforming system will provide the fuel flexibility needed to reduce the military's logistic burden and enable SOFC systems to operate with a broader range of available fuels.