UTILIZATION OF METHANOL FOR POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL-CELLS IN MOBILE SYSTEMS

The constantly growing volume of road traffic requires the introductio n of new vehicle propulsion systems with higher efficiency and drastic ally reduced emission rates. As part of the fuel cell programme of the Research Centre Julich a vehicle propulsion system with methanol as s econdary energy carrier and a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell ( PEMFC) as the main component for energy conversion is developed. The f uel gas is produced by a heterogeneously catalyzed steam reforming rea ction in which methanol is converted to H-2, CO and CO2. The required energy is provided by the catalytic conversion of methanol for both he ating up the system and reforming methanol. The high CO content of the fuel gas requires further processing of the gas or the development of new electrocatalysts for the anode. Various Pt-Ru alloys show promisi ng behaviour as CO-tolerant anodes. The entire fuel cell system is dis cussed in terms of energy and emission balances. The development of im portant components is described and experimental results are discussed .