PEM Fuel Processors

PCI is developing integrated fuel processors for liquid fuels for application in PEM and HT PEM fuel cell systems. Building upon its ultra-compact fuel reforming and fuel reforming catalytic reactor technologies, PCI is optimizing its fuel reforming and fuel processing technologies for the size, weight and performance needed to enable liquid-fueled PEM fuel cell systems under multiple Army and Navy programs.

PCI's Microlith®; Compact Logistics Fuel Processor^TM System for PEMs consists of an integrated fuel/air/steam injector, autothermal reformer (ATR), heat exchanger, sulfur trap and water gas shift reactor. The system is designed to take in medium sulfur fuel (<400 ppm sulfur) and provide reformate with <1 ppm sulfur for use in a high Temperature PEM or with additional CO cleanup for use in a low temperature PEM fuel cell.

BOP components such as pumps and controller are separately packaged. This results in a portable and compact package. A photo of a 10 kWe fuel processor including water gas shift reactor is shown.

Attributes

Characteristic	PCI Fuel Processor Status
System Net Rated Power (kWe)	5
Energy Efficiency (LHV H2 basis)	>73% (fuel quality and S/C ratio dependent)
Ultra-Compact	>0.4 kWe/l
Rapid Start-up	<10 minutes
Fast Transient Response	<5 sec
Fuel Flexible	Diesel, JP-8 and other low sulfur logistics fuels
Maximum Sulfur in product stream	<1 ppm (from 400 ppm S in fuel)
Turn Down Ratio	5:1

Microlith® is a registered trademark of Precision Combustion, Inc.