Microburner for Deployed Energy Systems

Compact, efficient, and sustainable electric power generators are needed to provide mobile electric power for deployable military bases. Fuel cells with fuel processors that run on logistic fuels are attractive candidates due to inherent efficiency, practicality, sustainability, and safety. In these low-power processing devices (3 kW to 15 kW), fuel atomization and evaporation prove to be limiting factors for heavy liquid fuels such as JP-8. To replace volatile fuels such as propane or gasoline in these applications, improved atomization and vaporization techniques for heavy fuels are needed. In this research program we will develop a low-power logistics fuel combustor based on our novel atomization technology. The combustor will be mated with a steam boiler to deliver steam for a hydrogen reforming process. Our fuel atomizers can create droplets with 10 µm mean diameter and can be scaled to deliver fuel, biodiesel, or ethanol. In the Phase II project, we will optimize the burner and steam boiler demonstrated in Phase I and integrate these components into a turnkey steam generation system. We will then interface the steam generator with an Air Force hydrogen reformer.