Low-Cost H2 Production for Fuel Cells Using Adsorption Enhanced Reforming

Rapid Adsorption Enhanced Cyclic Reformer is being developed at Intelligent Energy for producing low-cost hydrogen at high thermal efficiencies for use in fuel cells for combined heat and power application as a part of a DOE program (DE-FG36-07GO17013). Modeling and simulation is being done at University of South Carolina.

Experimental tests are progressing for ethanol and methane reforming using Rhodium-zirconium stabilized ceria catalyst and potassium-promoted hydrotalcite as sorbent. Results indicate that by adsorptive reforming at ~500 C high thermal efficiencies (~80%) are achievable. The paper will present experimental results and simulations predicting the behavior of the rapid cycle enhanced cyclic reformer.