Development of a micro fuel processor for PEMFCs

It is essential to make hydrogen supplying units with high energy density and compact size in order to apply polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for portable devices. The small and lightweight fuel processor can be a competitive hydrogen supplying unit for this type of fuel cells. Microchannels were patterned on the metal sheets and fabricated to make a reformer and vaporizer unit. Catalyst was deposited inside the microchannel of a reformer unit. Electrical heaters provide heat for the endothermic reaction and the vaporization of liquid fuel. A vaporizer and a reformer unit were connected serially to make a proto-type microreactor. The dimensions of the reformer and vaporizer unit excluding fittings were about 70 mm x 40 mm x 30 mm, respectively. The steam reforming of methanol was conducted with the microreactor. The performance of the microreactor was investigated at various operating conditions. The developed fuel processor generates enough hydrogen for power output of 10 W. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.