Natural Gas Reformer Cleanup System for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

40969 November 19, 1996 Mechanical Technology, Inc. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells generate electricity by using relatively clean hydrogen gas as a fuel. For on-site cogeneration, however, the fuel of choice is natural gas. A natural gas reformer can convert natural gas to dirty hydrogen. This project will develop a system to clean this product gas and provide pure hydrogen for fuel cell use. Phase I will develop a low-cost, composite-based separator membrane that can operate at low temperature and low pressure differentials using thin-film fabrication technology. Selected composite and support materials will be integrated into a structure that provides high hydrogen permeability, good structural integrity, excellent chemical compatibility with the reformate gas environment, and the potential for lowcost volume manufacture. Phase I will also design, fabricate, and test samples of the composite-based separator membrane. Phase II will involve further testing of the samples; integration of the most promising candidate with a 10-kW natural gas reformer; and integration of the reformer, separator, and PEM fuel cell stack into a 10-kW natural gas fuel-to-dc electric power converter. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The proposed work should result in a reformate cleanup system that will separate clean hydrogen gas from a reformate stream using a thin-film composite separator membrane. The immediate commercial application of this technology would be a fuel cell power generating system for small (<250 kW) commercial/building applications.