Development of Light-Weight, Low-Cost Multichannels Catalytic Membrane Reformer

The ability to reform battlefield fuels to highly enriched hydrogen gas would facilitate the use of fuel cells as an efficient electric generators for deployed forces. This SBIR Phase II program is focused on the optimization of highly efficient andcompact minireformers for this application. The steam reforming process, which allows higher yield of hydrogen in comparison to partial oxidation reaction, is harnessed for conversion of diesel, JP-8 and other hydrocarbon fuels into CO free hydrogen. ThePhase I demonstrated the feasibility of development of a compact, low cost multichannel minireformer from superalloy that can withstand high temperature of reaction for a long time using MER's proprietary technique. The incorporation of multichannels intomembrane reformer has the advantage of very high surface area membrane for high hydrogen flux, enhancing the equilibrium shift and increase the production capacity by 75% eliminating significantly reducing coke formation. The Phase II program will befocused on optimization of fabrication technology for multichannel superalloy minireactors, further membrane development, optimization for catalyst for steam reforming, establishing optimum conditions for steam reforming in multichannel membraneminireformers, and determination of optimal design and fabrication of the optimized reformer. Successful accomplishment of these objectives will culminate by designing and constructing a prototype fully integrated reformer for delivery to the Air Forcefor demonstration of the technology.