Integrated reformer/combustor

Figure 2.77 Integrated reformer/combustor for methanol steam reforming [68] (by courtesy of ACS).

Figure 4. Photo of ItmovaTek s Steam Reformer with Integrated Raffinate Combustor...

Figure 23.2 Prototype of an integrated reformer and combustor for methanol steam reforming (built at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe) [28].

K. Schubert, Micro-structured Methane Steam Reformer with Integrated Catalytic Combustor, Fuel Cells 2007, 2,... 

Cremers, C., Pelz, A., Stimming, U., Haas-Santo, K., Gdrke, O., Pfeifer, P. and Schubert, K. (2007) Micro-stmctured methane steam reformer with integrated catalytic combustor. Fuel Cells, 2, 91-98. 

In this study, an integrated methanol reformer including an evaporator and a combustor was fabricated and tested. Previous tests of the reformer with a number of on-off cycles revealed that non-uniform temperature distribution caused hot spots within the combustion plate, resulting in cracking of the welded region of the reformer. Therefore, emphasis was made to achieve a uniform temperature distribution within the reformer. In addition, start-up characteristics of the complete reforming system were investigated. 

Jones et al. [116] presented an integrated and miniaturized device for methanol steam reforming consisting of two evaporators/pre-heaters, a reformer and a combustor with a total volume of < 0.2 cm3 for a power range between 50 and... 

A radial concept is used for the integration of the combustor and catalytic reactor where concentric functional chambers build outward from a central core (Figure 4). The innermost sections comprise the combustor unit, where air is carried to the interior and raffinate gas from the membrane penetrates through the wall to form a combustion flame along the itmer wall of the reaction chamber. Preheated and mixed steam and fuel enter the reaction chamber and are catalytically converted to reformate. Reformate exits the reactor and is then sent to the... 

Figure 1. High Efficiency Integral Combustor/Reformer...

Systems Analysis Figure 1 shows a concept identified by NETL for a integrated fuel processor/ fuel cell system targeted for diesel APUs. There are several favorable attributes of this system. For example, startup occurs by firing an internal combustor in the dual reactor reformer. This provides heat to the ATR reformer (via conduction) as well as supplying heat to the fuel cell cathode via direct exhaust from the combustor or preheated air from the heat exchanger (optional). If necessary, the ATR is fired in a partial oxidation mode to aid in heatup and to provide heat to the anode side of the... 

Tadbir M A and Akbari M H (2011), Methanol steam reforming in a planar wash coated microreactor integrated with a micro-combustor , Int J Hydrogen Energy, 36,12822-12832. 

Another sub-watt power system was also developed by researchers from Batelle [34] as an alternative to conventional battery technology. The microscale fuel processor system for liquid fuels such as methanol and butane consisted of an integrated vaporizer, steam reformer and combustor. The system generated 10-500 mWe power output with a reactor volume of less than 5 mm. The energy density of the system operated with methanol was stated to be at least an order of magnitude greater than that of lithium ion batteries. 

Motorola cooperated with Engelhard and the University of Michigan to develop a microstructured steam reformer in a project funded by the US Department of Commerce s Technology Administration [55]. The integrated fuel processor-fuel cell system consisted of an evaporator, a combustor, a reformer, heat exchangers, insulation layers and the fuel cell. Ceramic technology was used. The device had a maximum power output of 1W [56]. 

Casio Computer has developed a 2.4 We integrated micro fuel processor comprising a methanol steam reformer, a PrOx reactor and a catalytic combustor (Figures 27.10... 

Yoshida, K, Tanaka, S, Hiraki, H, Esashi, M. A micro fuel reformer integrated with a combustor and a microchannel evaporator. J. Micromech. Microeng. 2006 16 191-197. 

SOFC systems can be designed to include a heat recovery component such as an adsorption chiller heater for CHP applications [72-76]. An example is a small (1-lOkW) methane-fueled residential CHP SOFC system that integrates CGR, AGR, and internal reforming [73]. The system consists of a fuel-cell stack, steam prereformer, various fluid delivery devices (blowers, ejectors, compressor, and water pump), heat exchangers, and catalytic combustor and power conditioning device along with a heat recovery component. Based on certain system parameters (50active area, nominal cell temperature of 800 °G, current density of 0.57 A cm , power density of0.40-0.43 Wcm , S/G ratio of 2.0, SOFC... 

An integrated microstructured 5-kW combined methanol steam reformer/catalyt-ic combustor was fabricated and the results were presented by Hermann et al, from GM/OPEL [515]. The specifications for the reactor and a future 50-kW fuel processor system were fairly ambitious. Amongst others ... 

Ersoza et al. (2005) studied a 100 kW net electrical power PEM fuel cell system consisting of an autothermal reformer, high and low temperature shift reactors, a preferential oxidation reactor, a PEM fuel cell, a combustor and an expander. Intensive heat integration within the PEM fuel cell system was necessary to achieve acceptable net electrical efficiency levels. The fuel cell stack efficiency has been calculated as a function of the number of cells (500-1250 cells). The obtained net electrical efficiency levels are between 30% (500 cells) and 37% (1250 cells) and they are comparable with the conventional gasoline based internal combustion engine systems, in terms of the mechanical power efficiency. 

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