Conceptual design of an integrated thermally self-sustained methanol steam reformer : high-temperature PEM fuel cell stack manportable power generator

Lotrič, Andrej (author), Sekavčnik, Mihael (author), Pohar, Andrej (author), Likozar, Blaž (author), Hočevar, Stanko (author)

We have investigated the concept of an integrated system for small, manportable power units. The focus of this study is the direct thermal coupling of a methanol steam reformer (MSR) and a high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT PEMFC) stack. A recently developed low-temperature (LT) MSR catalyst (CuZnGaOx) was synthesized and tested in a designed reforming reactor. The experimental data show that at 200 °C the complete conversion of methanol is achievable with a hydrogen yield of 45 cm3 min-1 gCAT -1 . An experimental setup for measuring the characteristics of the integrated system was designed and used to measure the characteristics of the two-cell HT PEMFC stack. The obtained kinetic parameters and the HT PEMFC stack characteristics were used in the modeling of the integrated system. The simulations confirmed that the integrated LT MSR/ HT PEMFC stack system, which also includes a vaporizer, can achieve a thermally selfsustained working point. The base-case scenario, established on experimental data, predicts a power output of 8.5 W, a methanol conversion of 98.5%, and a gross electrical efficiency (based on the HHV) of the system equal to 21.7%. However, by implementing certain measures, the power output and the electrical efficiency can readily be raised to 11.1 W and 35.5%, respectively.

• Language: English
• Keywords: methanol steam reformer, logistic fuel processor, PEM fuel cell, thermal system integration, modeling and optimization, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), fuell cells, proton exchange membranes, fuel processors, methanol steam reforming, heat integrated systems, energy systems modeling
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Article acceptance date: 09.05.2017
• Publication date: 12.06.2017
• Year: 2017
• Number of pages: Str. 16700-16713
• Numbering: Vol. 42, iss. 26
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-126397
• UDC: [620.9:66]:502.174.3
• ISSN on article: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.057
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15546139
• Publication date in RUL: 20.04.2021

LOTRIČ, Andrej, SEKAVČNIK, Mihael, POHAR, Andrej, LIKOZAR, Blaž and HOČEVAR, Stanko, 2017, Conceptual design of an integrated thermally self-sustained methanol steam reformer : high-temperature PEM fuel cell stack manportable power generator. International journal of hydrogen energy [online]. 2017. Vol. 42, no. 26, p. 16700–16713. [Accessed 30 April 2025]. DOI 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.057. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=126397

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of hydrogen energy
• Shortened title: Int. j. hydrogen energy
• Publisher: Elsevier, Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3338511

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 12.06.2017

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: gorivne celice, protonsko prevodne membrane, procesorji goriva, parni reformerji metanola, toplotno integrirani sistemi, modeliranje energetskih sistemov