Internal-reforming fuel cell

Natural gas is cleaned of its sulfur contaminants in a fuel cleanup device. Steam is added to the fuel stream prior to being fed to the internally reforming fuel cell. The fuel reacts electrochemically with the oxidant within the fuel cell to produce 3 MW of dc power. 

The University of Queensland in Australia conducts general R D to support MCFC systems as part of a project to develop advanced system integration techniques and catalysts for internal reforming fuels cells. The aim is to enable a wide range of fuels to be used with MCFCs for small scale stationary applications suitable for remote areas in Australia. 

Section 8.3, Figure 8.3). This is comparable to the result by Nishida et al. [5] for a similar recuperated system (but with an internal reforming fuel cell and plots that use constant temperature curves whereas, the results here are without a reformer and at constant fuel cell power). 

Samms, S.R. and Savinell, R.F. Kinetics of methanol-steam reformation in an internal reforming fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources, 2002, 112 (1), 13. 

S. H. Clarke, A. L. Dicks, K. Pointon, T. A. Smith, and A. Swann. Catalytic aspects of steam reforming of hydrocarbons in internal reforming fuel cells. Catalysis Today 38,(1997)411 23. 

Clarke S.H., Dicks A.L., Pointon K, Smith T.A., and Swann A. (1997) Catalytic aspects of the steam reforming of hydrocarbons in internal reforming fuel cells . Catalysis Today, 38,411 -423. 

Developers of internal reforming fuel cells have generally adopted one of two approaches, and these are usually referred to as direct (DIR) and indirect (HR) internal reforming. They are illustrated schematically in Figure 8.4. In some cases, a combination of both approaches has been taken. A thermodynamic analysis and comparison of the two approaches to internal reforming in the MCFC has been completed by Freni and Maggio... 

Farooque, M. Internal Reforming Fuel Cell System Requiring No Recirculated Cooling and Providing a High Fuel Process Gas Utilization, US Patent 4,917,971, April 17, (1990). 

---