A Fuel Flexible Reformer

With growing demand for reduced emissions during peacetime, the Air Force requires fuel cell technology for its various power needs including portable field devices and tent cities deployed overseas. To meet these needs with a reforming process, feed fuels will vary: when in the United States, natural gas is readily available while in other countries, JP-8 fuel will be used. In this Phase II program, nGimat proposes to deliver a prototype reactor to the Air Force capable of reforming natural gas, JP8 logistics fuel and others as needed. The reactor will exhibit high fuel throughput, high conversion rates and will easily produce PEM quality hydrogen from both fuels. In Phase I we demonstrated excellent efficiencies at reaction temperatures of 500°C with methane and JP-8. For the logistics fuel process, minimal (<5 ppm) hydrogen sulfide was detected in the exit stream. The core technology necessary to product low-cost, low-temperature fuel-versatile reforming reactors is available only through the use of nanomaterials prepared by combustion chemical vapor condensation (CCVC); these materials readily reform most hydrocarbons. Additionally, our Nanomiser® device, which delivers the liquid fuel in submicron droplets enables superior conversion of heavy hydrocarbons.