Advanced Amorphous Metal Membranes for Hydrogen Separation

The major drawback to the use of fuel cells as electric generators by deployed forces is their inability to directly use battlefield fuels. Low temperature fuel cells require a relatively pure, concentrated hydrogen stream, with very low levels of sulfur and carbon monoxide in order to prevent poisoning of fuel cell anode catalysts, and even the far more robust high temperature solid oxide fuel cells are poisoned by sulfur. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes to develop a CO and sulfur tolerant membrane, a key component of a compact fuel processor, to produce the clean hydrogen from high sulfur logistics fuel. In Phase I project, we will develop a sulfur tolerant membrane and demonstrate its performance for separating H2 from a high sulfur reformate. We will also carry out a preliminary design of the membrane module to produce the required hydrogen flow rate to run a 10 kWe fuel cell. In Phase II, we will further improve and scale-up the membrane.