• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.793-799
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• 2016

In a hybrid fuel cell system, low-temperature reforming technology, which uses waste heat as a heat source, is applied to improve system efficiency. A low temperature reformer is required to optimize geometry in low thermal conditions so that the reformer can achieve the proper methane conversion rate. This study analyzed internal temperature distributions and the reaction patterns of a reformer by considering the change of the shape factor on the limited heat supply condition. Unlike the case of a high temperature reformer, analysis showed that the reaction of a low temperature reformer takes place primarily in the high temperature region of the reactor exit. In addition, it was confirmed that the efficiency can be improved by reducing the GHSV (gas hourly space velocity) or increasing the heat transfer area in the radial direction. Through reacting characteristic analysis, according to change of the aspect ratio, it was confirmed that a low temperature reformer can improve the efficiency by increasing the heat transfer in the radial direction, rather than in the longitudinal direction.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

The study is to analyze the chemical and heat-flow reactions in the hydrogen generation unit(autothermal reformer), using computational numerical tools. Autothermal reformer(ATR) is involved in complex chemical reaction, mass and heat transfer due to exothermic and endothermic reactions. Therefore it is necessary to reveal the effects of various operation parameters and geometries on the ATR performance by using numerical analysis. Numerical analysis needs to dominant chemical reactions that includes Full Combustion(FC) reaction, Steam Reforming(SR) reaction, Water-Gas Shift(WGS) reaction and Direct Steam Reforming(DSR) reaction. The objective of the study is to improve theoretically the reformer design capability for the goal of high hydrogen production in the autothermal reformer using methane. Hydrogen production reached maximum in a certain value of Oxygen to Carbon Ratio(OCR) or Steam to Carbon Ratio(SCR). When the longitudinal distance to dimeter ratio(L/D) is increased, hydrogen production increases.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.819-826
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• 2022

Fuel cell systems are being supplied to households and buildings to reduce greenhouse gases. The fuel cell systems have problems of high cost and slow startup due to fuel processors. Greenhouse gas reduction of the fuel cell systems is also limited by using natural gas. The problems can be solved by using a hydrogen generator consisting of a reformer and pressure swing adsorption (PSA). However, part load operation of the hydrogen generator is required depending on the hydrogen consumption. In this paper, PSA operation strategies are investigated for part load of the hydrogen generator. Adsorption and purge time were changed in the range of part load ratio between from 0.5 to 1.0. As adsorption time increased, hydrogen recovery increased from 29.09% to 48.34% at 0.5 of part load ratio. Hydrogen recovery and hydrogen purity were also improved by increasing adsorption and purge time. However, hydrogen recovery dramatically decreased to 35.01% at 0.5 of part load ratio.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2008

In hydrogen production for fuel cell by reforming ADG, sulfur compounds, odorant in ADG, are detrimental to reforming catalyst and fuel cell electrodes. We prepared alkali metal impregnated activated carbon to remove sulfur compounds in ADG by adsorption. The sulfur breakthrough adsorption capacity was changed depending on the oxygen concentration and relative humidity. Oxygen 0.2 vol% and RH 90% showed the highest sulfur breakthrough capacity. Adsorption characteristics of $H_2S$ on KI impregnated activated carbon were evaluated using dynamic adsorption method in a fixed bed. Based on the results, adsorption tower was designed and field-tested.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.1002-1007
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper studied the optimal hydrogen production condition of plasma reforming system to operate the PEMFC. Plasma reforming reactor used with Ni catalyst reactor at the same time, So $H_2$ concentration increased. Also the WGS and PrOx reactor were designed to remove CO concentration under 10 ppm, because CO has effect on catalyst poisoning of PEMFC. The maximum $H_2$ production condition in plasma reforming system was S/C ratio 3.2, $CH_4$ flow rate 2.0 L/min, catalytic reactor temperature $700{\pm}5^{\circ}C$ and input power 900 W. At this time, the concentration of produced syngas was $H_2$ 70.2%, CO 7.5%, $CO_2$ 16.2%,$CH_4$ 1.8%. The hydrogen yield, hydrogen selectivity and $CH_4$ conversion rate were 56.8%, 38.1% and 92.2% respectively. The energy efficiency and specific energy requirement were 37.0%, 183.6 kJ/mol. In additional, The experiment of $CO_2/CH_4$ ratio proceeded. Also WGS reactor experiment was proceeding on optimum condition of plasma reactor and the exit concentration were $H_2$ 68%, CO 337 ppm, $CO_2$ 24.0%, $CH_4$ 2.2%, $C_2H_4$ 0.4%, $C_2H_6$ 4.1%. At this time, experiment result of PrOx reactor were $H_2$ 51.9%, CO 0%, $CO_2$ 17.3%.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2014

During the past decades much attention has been paid to the desulfurization of diesel oil which is important as a source for the fuel cells to prevent the sulfur poisoning of both diesel steam reforming catalyst and electrode of fuel cell. Although alternative desulfurization techniques have been investigated, desulfurization for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is still challenged. Therefore, this research focuses on the desulfurization of commercial ULSD for the application to molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Herein, the performances of several kinds of commercial adsorbents based on activated carbons, zeolites, and metal oxides for desulfurization of ULSD were screened. The results showed that metal oxides based materials can feasibly reduce sulfur concentration in ULSD to a level of 0.1 ppmw while activated carbons and zeolites did not reach this level at current conditions.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2023

As the development of alternative energy is required due to the depletion of fossil fuels, interest in the use of hydrogen energy is increasing. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source with high energy density and can lead to the application of environmentally friendly technologies. However, due to difficulties in production, storage, and transportation that prevent the application of hydrogen-based eco-friendly technology, research on reforming reactions using dimethyl ether (DME) is being conducted. Unlike other hydrocarbons, DME is attracting attention as a hydrogen carrier because it has excellent storage stability and transportability, and there is no C-C bond in the molecule. The reaction between DME and steam is one of the reforming processes with the highest hydrogen yield in theory at a temperature lower than that of other hydrocarbons. In this study, a hydrogen reforming device using DME was developed and a catalyst prepared by supporting Cu in alumina was put into a reactor to find optimal hydrogen production conditions for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells while changing reaction temperature (300-500℃), pressure (5-10 bar), and steam/carbon ratio (3:1 to 5:1).

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.325-343
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• 2023

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have been attracting attention as energy conversion devices that can directly supply methanol liquid fuel without a fuel reforming process. The commercial polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) currently applied to DMFC are perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer-based PEMs, which exhibit high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. However, problems such as high methanol permeability and environmental pollutants generated during decomposition require the development of PEMs for DMFCs using novel ionomers. Recently, studies have been reported to develop PEMs using hydrocarbon-based ionomers that exhibit low fuel permeability and high physicochemical stability. This review introduces the following studies on hydrocarbon-based PEMs for DMFC applications: 1) synthesis of grafting copolymers that exhibit distinct hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase-separated structure to improve both proton conductivity and methanol selectivity, 2) introduction of cross-linked structure during PEM fabrication to reduce the methanol permeability and improve dimensional stability, and 3) incorporation of organic/inorganic composites or reinforcing substrates to develop reinforced composite membranes showing improved PEM performances and durability.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.455-459
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• 2013

The fuel processor for the portable fuel cell includes multi-step processes consisting of hydrogen generator, heat generator and several CO clean-up stages. One of requirements of the fuel processor for portable fuel cell system is a rapid start-up time. Especially, the warm-up time for WGS reactor is crucial factors for total start-up time. In this paper, active heating protocol, which is the heating protocol of WGS reactor supplied by the oxidation of CO rich reformate in the initial stage, is used for a rapid start-up. The air stream fed to the inlet of WGS reactor rapidly oxidize the CO rich reformate in the WGS reactor. Therefore, CO concentration in reformate quickly stabilized at the desired concentration without CO surges.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

In this study, CFD model for a Heat Exchange Steam Reformer (HESR) used for a 10kW SOFC system is developed for the design optimization of the HESR. The model is used to explore the effect of design parameters on the performance of the HESR. In the HESR, heat is delivered from the hot gas channel to the fuel channel to supply the heat required for the fuel reforming. In the fuel channel where the fuel is reformed, thermo-fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and chemical reaction are considered to predict the performance of the reformer. The model is validated with experimental data within 2~3% error. The validated model is used for the parametric study of the HESR design. Channel length, channel diameter, and flow direction are selected as the design parameters. The effects of the HESR design parameters on the outlet temperature, outlet H2 mole fraction, and pressure drop across the reformer are presented using the model.