A MEMBRANE REACTOR FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN FUEL FROM HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ARE UNDER WAY TO PRODUCE THE "GREEN CAR" --CAN ENERGY-EFFICIENT, POLLUTION-FREE, ECONOMICAL VEHICLE THAT IS ALSO APPEALING TO CONSUMERS. A GOOD APPROACH TO MEETING THE GOALS OF THE "GREEN CAR" IS TO USE A FUEL THAT IS ENERGY-EFFICIENT, POLLUTION-FREE, ECONOMICAL, AND SAFE. THIS PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE AN INNOVATIVE MEMBRANE-BASED PROCESS THAT WOULD MAKE HYDROGEN FEASIBLE AS AN AUTOMOBILE FUEL. ULTRATHIN METAL COMPOSITE MEMBRANES WILL BE USED IN AN ON-BOARD MEMBRANE REACTOR TO PRODUCE EXTREMELY PURE HYDROGEN FUEL BY DEHYDROGENATION OF HYDROCARBON LIQUID. THE SPENT LIQUID IS STORED IN THE AUTOMOBILE AND RECYCLED AT THE FILLING STATION, ENABLING THE "GREEN CAR" TO USE THE EXISTING FUEL SUPPLY NETWORK. THE USE OF A HYDROCARBON LIQUID AS THE HYDROGEN SOURCE ELIMINATES THE PROBLEM OF FUEL SAFETY. IN PHASE I, CATALYTICALLY ACTIVE METAL MEMBRANES ON HIGH-TEMPERATURE POLYMER SUPPORTS WILL BE PREPARED AND CHARACTERIZED. THE MEMBRANES WILL BE INSTALLED IN A MEMBRANE REACTOR TO DETERMINE THE HYDROGEN CONVERSION EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTION RATE. THE SIZE, COST, AND WEIGHT OF A MEMBRANE REACTOR TOPOWER A 2,000-LB AUTOMOBILE WILL BE ESTIMATED. IN PHASE II, THE MEMBRANES WILL BE SCALED UP PILOT-SCALE MEMBRANE REACTOR TO DEMONSTRATE THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AS AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.