Advanced Logistics Fuel Desulfurization and Reforming System for Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Units

The objective of this program is to develop and demonstrate an advanced logistic fuel processing system that utilizes a novel regenerable desulfurization absorbent. The sulfur absorbent will operate efficiently at ambient pressure and be readily regenerable through exposure to air. The proposed fuel processor will integrate the desulfurization technology with a reformer capable of operation in partial oxidation and autothermal reforming modes and an efficient water recycle subsystem and be capable of startup in less than thirty minutes. The reformate produced by the system can be utilized in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell following additional gas cleanup or it can be directly utilized in a solid oxide fuel cell.