Fuel Preprocessor (FPP) for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit

Namazian, M. ; Sethuraman, S. ; Venkataraman, G.

Altex Technologies Corporation

关键词: Hydrocarbons;    Fuel Cell;    Diesel Fuels;    30 Direct Energy Conversion;    Apu;   

DOI  :  10.2172/840924
RP-ID  :  FPPFINALREPORT
RP-ID  :  FG36-02GO12058
RP-ID  :  840924

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), driven by truck engines, consume over 800 million gallon of diesel fuel while idling. Use of separate SOFC based APUs are an excellent choice to reduce the cost and pollution associated with producing auxiliary power. However, diesel fuel is a challenging fuel to use in fuel cell systems because it has heavy hydrocarbons that can transform into carbon deposits and gums that can block passages and deactivate fuel reformer and fuel cell reactor elements. The work reported herein addresses the challenges associated with the diesel fuel sulfur and carbon producing contaminants in a Fuel Preprocessor (FPP). FPP processes the diesel fuel onboard and ahead of the reformer to reduce its carbon deposition tendency and its sulfur content, thus producing a fuel suitable for SOFC APU systems. The goal of this DOE supported Invention and Innovation program was to design, develop and test a prototype Fuel Preprocessor (FPP) that efficiently and safely converts the diesel fuel into a clean fuel suitable for a SOFC APU system. The goals were achieved. A 5 kWe FPP was designed, developed and tested. It was demonstrated that FPP removes over 80% of the fuel sulfur and over 90% of its carbon residues and it was demonstrated that FPP performance exceeds the original project goals.