On-Board Miniature Jet Fuel Desulfurizer for Lightweight Fuel Cell Power Systems

Fuel cells are one of the most efficient electrical power generation technologies available and are capable of utilizing as a fuel source, Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8), a jet fuel that is widely used by the Air Force and Army, as specified by Army Regulation AR 70-12. In fact, because of the availability of JP-8, it offers an abundant source of fuel, which coupled with fuel cells, can generate power at a highly efficient rate. The combination of jet fuel and fuel cells has a huge economic advantage to the Air Force and Army. Unfortunately, JP-8 contains sulfur, which results in “sulfur poisoning” and damages the fuel cell electrode. Therefore, removal of such sulfur is required before JP-8 can become a fuel source for fuel cells. To enable this, we propose a lightweight, miniaturized desulfurizer that is capable of removing sulfur from JP-8 in a convenient and portable way than existing stationary methods). With this proposed desulfurization technology, readily available JP-8 as well as other hydrocarbon fuels, can be used as a compatible fuel source for fuel cells, such as solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC).