A sub-watt power system is being developed as an alternative to conventional battery technology to better meet energy and power densities needed for operating wireless electronic devices, such as microsensors and microelectromechanical systems. This system integrates a microscale fuel processor, which produces a hydrogen-rich stream from liquid fuels, such as methanol and butane, and a microscale fuel cell, which uses the hydrogen as fuel to produce electric power. Battelle, Pacific Northwest Division and Case Western Reserve University are developing and demonstrating this technology for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. This paper describes work being performed by Battelle on the fuel processor, in particular, catalyst and reactor design and testing. The microscale fuel processor (integrated vaporizer/steam reformer/combustor) assembled, fabricated, and tested during this study generated an equivalent power level of 10 to 500 mWe. This steam reformer test system has a reactor volume of less than 0.5 mm3. Catalyst testing achieved a near-maximum theoretical conversion for methanol with
Revised: September 25, 2002 |
Published: July 11, 2002
Citation
Jones E.O., J.D. Holladay, S.T. Perry, R.J. Orth, R.T. Rozmiarek, J. Hu, and M.R. Phelps, et al. 2002.Sub-watt Power Using an Integrated Fuel Processor and Fuel Cell. In Microreaction Technology, IMRET IV - Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Microreaction Technology, edited by M. Matlosz, W. Ehrfield, et al., 277-285. Berlin, :Springer-Verlag. PNWD-SA-5296.