Compact, Low-Cost, Biogas Reformer for 3 kW SOFC Power Generator

Ever-increasing demands for power and energy have tethered military field personnel to long logistic tails that limit the ability to maneuver and make resupply convoys prime targets for attack.  The deployment of new power sources with greater efficiencies, increased energy densities, and reduced thermal and acoustic signatures will facilitate improvements to communications, weapons, and support systems, while simultaneously reducing life cycle, acquisition, and resupply costs.  Solid oxide fuel cell-based power generation systems are well-suited to achieve these goals, but the ability to reliably operate these systems on bio-derived gaseous fuels that can be sustainably produced from local energy resources would greatly enhance their utility. A program to develop and demonstrate a compact, low-cost, 3 kW solid oxide fuel cell power generator capable of operating interchangeably on natural gas, propane, and biogas is proposed.  Development of a fuel-flexible partial oxidation reformer capable of efficiently converting these fuels into a hydrogen-rich syngas well-suited for solid oxide fuel cell operation will be the initial focus of the proposed effort.  The 3 kW reformer will weigh less than 410 g, occupy less than 180 cc, startup in less than five minutes, and reliably withstand over 2000 operational cycles.  Designs for integrating the reformer with a solid oxide fuel will be refined, and a 3 kW reformer-fuel cell prototype will be demonstrated.