Logistical fuel to hydrogen; an integrated processing approach augmented by microfibrous entrapped polishing catalysts and sorbents for PEM fuel cells

Hydrogen generation from JP8 (Aviation Fuel) and clean-up of the steam reformate stream to produce PEM quality hydrogen is presented. The fuel processor has reformer, post-former, H₂S removal, water gas shift reactors, preferential oxidation of CO, and CO₂ removal stages. The processor also incorporates final fuel filter that efficiently removes parts-per-million level impurities just prior to the PEMFC. Microfibrous entrapped catalysts and sorbents are a new class of materials that offer various advantages, e.g., high contacting efficiency, low pressure drop, and efficient thermal management over conventional packed bed approaches. The development and testing of the bread-board fuel processor; and the efficiency, weight, volume, operating conditions, robustness, and balance-of-plant details of the fuel processor are presented. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA, 8/22-26/2004).