Desulphurization of Logistic JP-5 Jet Fuel for Enhanced Fuel Cell Operations

Fuel cell systems operating on logistic fuels must be able to handle the presence of high levels of sulfur (up to 5000 ppm). Nu Element, Inc. has developed a desulphurization technology that incorporates into their existing fuel processing architecture, previously validated with sulfur-free JP-5. Phase I of the ONR SBIR was used to identify key materials for the process and to determine pathways for further improvements. Phase II of the SBIR will be used to further develop these materials to improve the desulphurization process. Phase II will also be used to incorporate the desulphurization process with Nu Element’s existing fuel processing architecture to operating on sulfur-laden JP-5, as well as to scale these units to bench-top demonstration unit, (from 250 W to 1 kW, depending on optional funding).