Methanol Micro Reformer

"Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes to develop a compact methanol reformer based on this Microlith,¿ catalytic reactor technology, capable of delivering 20 ¿V 400 cc/sec of high purity hydrogen for use in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cellsoperating at 15 ¿V 300 W range. The size of the catalytic reactor required to supply a 300 W PEM fuel cell, is expected to be extremely small. The proposed reformer will have near silent operation, low capital and maintenance costs, will be rugged anddurable with near instantaneous startup and transient response. Development of a compact Microlithr-based methanol reformer system capable of high rates of hydrogen production would be a significant benefit for fuel cells or other hydrogen based energyconversion systems. The size of the catalytic reactor required to supply a 300 W PEM fuel cell, would be approximately that of a standard AA battery. The technology is also readily scalable to larger sizes, with the same low volume benefit as compared toother hydrogen generation systems. Because the CO production is expected to be less than 1% a water gas shift reactor may be eliminated along with the cost and associated weight. Coupling the methanol reformer with either a downstream preferential COoxidation reactor (PROX) or a membrane separator for isolating hydrogen are possible approaches to obtaining high purity hydrogen. These characteristics are beneficial to the needs of a small, l