SIMULATION OF A 250 KW DIESEL FUEL PROCESSOR PEM FUEL-CELL SYSTEM

Polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems offer a potential power source for utility and mobile applications. Practical fuel cell systems use fuel processors for the production of hydrogen rich gas. Liquid fuels, such as diesel or other related fuels, are attractive op tions as feeds to a fuel processor. The generation of hydrogen gas for fuel cells, in most cases, becomes the crucial design issue with resp ect to weight and volume in these applications. Furthermore, these sys tems will require a gas clean-up system to insure that the fuel qualit y meets the demands of the cell anode. The endothermic nature of the r eformer will have a significant affect on the overall system efficienc y. The gas clean-up system may also significantly effect the overall h eat balance. To optimize the performance of this integrated system, th erefore, waste heat must be used effectively. Previously, we have conc entrated on catalytic methanol-steam reforming. A model of a methanol steam reformer has been previously developed and has been used as the basis for a new, higher temperature model for liquid hydrocarbon fuels . Similarly, our fuel cell evaluation program previously led to the de velopment of a steady-state electrochemical fuel cell model (SSEM). Th e hydrocarbon fuel processor model and the SSEM have now been incorpor ated in the development of a process simulation of a 250 kW diesel-fue led reformer/fuel cell system using a process simulator. The performan ce of this system has been investigated for a variety of operating con ditions and a preliminary assessment of thermal integration issues has been carried out. This study demonstrates the application of a proces s simulation model as a design analysis tool for the development of a 250 kW fuel cell system. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.