Gasoline onboard reformation

Onboard reforming for fuel cells depends on catalytic reactions to convert conventional hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline or methanol, into hydrogen that fuel cells can then use to produce electricity to power vehicles. 

The use of available fuels will allow fuel cells on the market more quickly. Hydrogen could be processed from gasoline onboard vehicles until hydrogen becomes a more practical fuel choice. DaimlerChrysler has been working with an onboard sensor that would tell what kind of fuel is being pumped in and then adjust the reformer on the fly. This system would allow different fuels to be reformed at different temperatures using varying proportions of steam and air. 

While it is technically possible to use fuels other than gasoline, such as methanol, for this process, H2Sim initially assumes onboard reformers would utilize gasoline. 

The main question yet to be answered deals with whether the fuel cells in these cars will be fueled by H2 stored on board or by H2 made from gasoline or methanol as it is needed. The latter systems include an onboard reformer that uses catalysts to produce H2 from other fuels. The on-board storage of hydrogen could take place in a tank at high pressure (approximately 5000 psi) or it could utilize a metal-hydride-based solid. Energy Conversion Devices... 

Onboard gasoline reforming could serve as an interim step and accelerate the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. It does not require a hydrogen infrastructure. Onboard methanol reformers are likely to be even less efficient than gasoline reformers. For the immediate future, increases in methanol production are likely to come from overseas natural gas. 

Ning et al., 1999 Parker et al., 2004 Cao and Bergens, 2004 He et al., 2004 Seiler et al., 2004 Jusys and Behm, 2004). The new catalysts will be used in the onboard fuel reformer of an automotive fuel cell system to convert gasoline, or other hydrocarbon fuels, into hydrogen-rich gas. 

One of the initial attempts of exhaust gas reforming, as well as onboard H2 generation, was reported by Newkirk and Abel. Their process of high-temperature, non-catalytic SR of gasoline resulted in carbon formation in the reformer however, their objective, to reduce emissions by feeding H2 to the gasoline engine, was achieved. 

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