Compact self-regenerating JP-8 desulfurizer

Sulfur compounds in JP-8 are a barrier to use of fuel cells since sulfur poisons the catalysts used in fuel cells and fuel processors. Mesoscopic Devices has developed a continuous, self-regenerating desulfurization system that can treat fuel to fuel cell standards while utilizing sulfur sorbents many times more efficiently than typical fixed bed approaches. The approach exploits three key innovations: 1) air regenerable sulfur sorbents for liquid fuels, 2) a highly optimized bed arrangement, and 3) a simple and reliable device for switching the beds from desulfurization to regeneration modes. Mesoscopic Devices' ThioCycleT sorbents have been demonstrated to desulfurize marine diesel with up to 10,000 ppm sulfur to less than 10 ppm and have the ability to be air regenerated. JP-8 (with 1,000 ppm sulfur) has been desulfurized to less than 2 ppm using these sorbents. In the proposed Phase I program, Mesoscopic Devices will build and demonstrate a brassboard desulfurizer for treating JP-8 to support 5 kW fuel cell systems.