Vehicle reformers

RTA. 2001. National Heavy Vehicle Reform Heavy Vehicle Mass, Loading and Access. RTA/Pub. 01.029. Cat no. RTA45070666E. Sydney Road and Traffic Authority. 

In contrast with the AFC, the PAFC can demonstrate reliable operation with 40 percent to 50 percent system efficiency even when operating on low quality fuels, such as waste residues. This fuel flexibility is enabled by higher temperature operation (200°C vs. 100°C for the AFC) since this raises electro-catalyst tolerance toward impurities. Flowever, the PAFC is still too heavy and lacks the rapid start-up that is nec-essaiy for vehicle applications because it needs preheating to 100°C before it can draw a current. This is unfortunate because the PAFC s operating temperature would allow it to thermally integrate better with a methanol reformer. 

Ahmed, S. (1997). Partial Oxidation Reformer Development for Fuel Cell Vehicles. Proceedings of the. 12nd Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Paper 97081 (August). 

As a constituent of synthesis gas, hydrogen is a precursor for ammonia, methanol, Oxo alcohols, and hydrocarbons from Fischer Tropsch processes. The direct use of hydrogen as a clean fuel for automobiles and buses is currently being evaluated compared to fuel cell vehicles that use hydrocarbon fuels which are converted through on-board reformers to a hydrogen-rich gas. Direct use of H2 provides greater efficiency and environmental benefits. ... 

Figure 226. Concept of a zero C02 emission vehicle using a thermally regenerative reformer (a) conventional reforming, (b) proposed thermally regenerative reforming, (b-1) reforming mode, (b-2) regenerating and C02 recovering mode [6]...

Kato, Y., K. Ando, and Y. Yoshizawa, 2003. Study on a regenerative fuel reformer for a zero-emission vehicle system, J. Chem. Eng. Japan, 36 (7), 860-866. 

More complex hydrocarbonaceous fuels might materialize in the long term, depending on the alternative vehicle market. The fuel development programs also include hydro-carbonaceous fuels for both, on-board reformers and for liquid hydrocarbon fuel cells. The introduction of hybrid and FC cars would inevitably reduce the share of gasoline in total fuel consumed. 

Galloni, E. and M. Minutillo, Performance of a spark ignition engine fuelled with reformate gas produced on-board vehicle. Int.. Hydrogen Energy, 32(13), 2532-2538,2007. 

Kreutz, T., Steinbugler, M., and Ogden, J., Onboard fuel reformers for fuel cell vehicles Equilibrium, kinetic and system modeling, Proc. 1996 Fuel Cell Seminar, Orlando, FL, 714, 1996. 

Pettersson, L. and Westerholm, R., State of the art of multi-fuel reformers for fuel cell vehicles Problem identification and research needs, Int. ]. Hydrogen Energ., 26, 243, 2001. 

Takahashi, K. Takezawa, N. Kobayashi, H., The mechanism of steam reforming of vehicles. Applied Catalysis 1982, 2, 363-366. 

Standards Development General FC Vehicle Safety SAE Fuel Cell Vehicle Systems SAE Fuel System Components CSA Containers SAE Reformers SAE Emissions SAE Recycling SAE Service/Repair SAE... 

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. 

Fuel cell vehicles with onboard methanol reformers would have very low emissions of urban air pollutants. Daimler-Chrysler has built demonstration fuel cell vehicles that convert methanol to hydrogen. 

Gasoline fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) could be an interim step. Their main advantage is the use of an available fuel. An affordable gasoline reformer could allow a market for fuel cell vehicles without a hydrogen infrastructure. 

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. 

The 50 million tons of hydrogen that is produced worldwide per year is enough to fuel 200 million vehicles. The hydrogen produced from natural gas in a two step reforming process costs about 4 to 5 per kilogram which is the chemical equivalent of a gallon of gasoline. 

Methanol would allow a transitional phase where some fuel cell vehicles use methanol, which is relatively simple to reform and would not present too big a change from our current system. However, methanol is toxic and very corrosive. Gas stations would need to be retrofitted to operate with it (new fuel tanks and fuel lines.) But, many gas station tanks are already methanol- compliant. 

Initially, pure hydrogen gas could be used for fleet vehicles, which includes delivery trucks, taxis and buses and onboard reformed methanol could be the fuel for passenger cars. Fleet vehicles are usually served by large garages with trained staff and could have the facilities for in-house hydrogen production. Without the reformers, fleet vehicles could be less complex and would be able to work within the range limitation of on-... 

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