A 15-We portable power system is being developed for the US Army that consists of a hydrogen-generating fuel reformer coupled to a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell. In the first phase of this project, a methanol steam reformer system was developed and demonstrated. The reformer system included a combustor, two vaporizers, and a steam reforming reactor. The device was demonstrated as a thermally independent unit over the range of 14-80 Wt output. Assuming a 14-day mission life and an ultimate 1-kg fuel processor/fuel cell assembly, a base case was chosen to illustrate the expected system performance. Operating at 13 We, the system yielded a fuel processor efficiency of 45% (LHV of H2 out/LHV of fuel in) and an estimated net efficiency of 22% (assuming a fuel cell efficiency of 48%). The resulting energy density of 720 Wh/kg is several times the energy density of the best lithium-ion batteries. Some immediate areas of improvement in thermal management also have been identified, and an integrated fuel processor is under development. The final system will be a hybrid, containing a fuel reformer, a fuel cell, and a rechargeable battery. The battery will provide power for start-up and added capacity for times of peak power demand.


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    Title :

    Development of a soldier-portable fuel cell power system. I. A bread-board methanol fuel processor


    Contributors:
    Palo, D.R. (author) / Holladay, J.D. (author) / Rozmiarek, R.T. (author) / Guzman-Leong, C.E. (author) / Yong Wang (author) / Hu, Jianli (author) / Chin, Ya-Huei (author) / Dagle, R.A. (author) / Baker, E.G. (author)

    Published in:

    Journal of Power Sources ; 108 , 1-2 ; 28-34


    Publication date :

    2002


    Size :

    7 Seiten, 20 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English





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