A versatile, novel two-step hydrogen reforming process

The Air Force requires a reformer technology that can handle multiple fuels and produce fuel cell quality hydrogen on demand. These include JP-8 as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbons. Many of the current technologies require multiple steps in order to remove CO or H2S impurities from the fuel stream. This creates difficulties from fuel versatility, processing and portability standpoints. nGimat proposes a two step process that can produce pure fuel cell quality hydrogen efficiently from either natural gas or JP-8. The core technology, which creates oxygen vacancies from a mixed cerium oxide replenishes them using water vapor in a subsequent step. The resultant hydrogen is carbon monoxide and sulfur free because generation only depends on surface reaction at oxygen defect sites which are not hindered in the presence of sulfur or reacted sulfur species. Additionally, using our Nanomiser device, which can generate submicron droplets of liquid fuels including JP-8, we will achieve faster reaction and fuel vaporization rates than is otherwise obtained using competing technologies.