Abstract
Keywords
Fuel Processing, Fuel Reforming, Hydrogen Fuel, Fuel Cell Vehicle
Abstract
This paper presents experimental study of hydrogen (H2) production by catalytic autothermal reforming of natural gas (CH4) for fuel cell vehicle. The experiments are conducted under thermally neutral and different feedstock conditions. The results show that the reforming performance is strongly dependent on the molar air-to-fuel ratio (A/F), molar water-to-fuel ratio (W/F) and the flowrate of the feedstock mixture. The optimum conditions for high natural gas conversion efficiency and high H2 yield are at A/F of 3-3.5, W/F of 2-2.5 and fuel flowrate below 120-250 l/h. Under these conditions, fuel conversion efficiency of 95-99% and H2 yield of 39-41% on dry basis can be achieved and 1 mole of natural gas can produce 1.8 moles of H2 at an equilibrium reactor temperature of not exceeding 850oC.