A natural gas reformer, based upon compact heat exchanger hardware, has been developed by Advantica. Possible applications include fuel cells, gas-to-liquids, and small-scale local hydrogen production. The reformer is extremely small volume and is capable of producing hydrogen at a lower cost than competing technologies The principle of the Compact Reformer is to enhance heat transfer and catalyst activity using thin catalyst layers deposited either side of the compact heat exchanger. Advantica Ashby Road Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3GR UK Tel: +44 (0)1509 282659 Fax: +44 (0)1509 283064 Email: [email protected] www.advantica.biz Our catalysts display outstanding activity, easily achieving the 10kW/m 2 target power density. System studies indicate that the Compact Reformer is capable of integration in PEM fuel cell systems of high efficiency. Proof-of-concept Compact Reformers, fabricated by diffusion bonding, have been successfully coated with catalysts and tested under realistic conditions, for extended periods. Extended tests over 500 hours have completed successfully. The Compact Reformer is a key development in fuel processing offering several advantages, including: Miniaturisation of the reformer (up to around 13kWe/litre for fuel cells) High system efficiency Reduction of the reformer temperature to 650˚C, allowing cheaper materials selection and potential durability benefits Miniaturisation of other process stages such as water-gas shift using the same concepts Application to other hydrocarbon fuels Low cost Advantica is currently working to realise these advantages. The key breakthrough has been made in catalyst coatings. After screening more than 500 catalyst types, we have deposited adherent catalysts on stainless steel coupons and heat exchanger material. The catalyst thickness controls the reforming and combustion reaction rates. CH 4 + 2O 2 CO 2 + 2H 2 O CH 4 + H 2 O CO + 3H 2 Catalyst (10-50µm) Catalyst (10-50µm) Substrate (0.5mm) HEAT Engineering a Better Return on Assets® © copyright 2004 Advantica, Inc. (USA Only) and Advantica Ltd. (Outside USA). All rights reserved by the respective owner Compact Reformer for Hydrogen Production Martin Brown, Robert Judd, Angie Siddle

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Page 1: Compact Reformer for Hydrogen Production - Judd.pdf · The Compact Reformer is a key development in fuel processing offering several advantages, including: Miniaturisation of the

A natural gas reformer, based upon compact heat exchanger hardware, has beendeveloped by Advantica. Possible applications include fuel cells, gas-to-liquids, andsmall-scale local hydrogen production.

The reformer is extremely small volume and is capable of producinghydrogen at a lower cost than competing technologies

The principle of the Compact Reformer is toenhance heat transfer and catalyst activityusing thin catalyst layers deposited eitherside of the compact heat exchanger.

AdvanticaAshby RoadLoughboroughLeicestershireLE11 3GRUK

Tel: +44 (0)1509 282659Fax: +44 (0)1509 283064

Email: [email protected]

www.advantica.biz

Our catalysts display outstandingactivity, easily achieving the10kW/m2 target power density.

System studies indicate that the CompactReformer is capable of integration in PEMfuel cell systems of high efficiency.

Proof-of-concept Compact Reformers,fabricated by diffusion bonding, have beensuccessfully coated with catalysts and testedunder realistic conditions, for extendedperiods. Extended tests over 500 hours havecompleted successfully.

The Compact Reformer is a key development in fuelprocessing offering several advantages, including:

� Miniaturisation of the reformer (up to around 13kWe/litre for fuel cells)

� High system efficiency

� Reduction of the reformer temperature to 650˚C, allowing cheapermaterials selection and potential durability benefits

� Miniaturisation of other process stages such as water-gas shiftusing the same concepts

� Application to other hydrocarbon fuels

� Low cost

Advantica is currently working to realise these advantages.

The key breakthrough has been made incatalyst coatings. After screening more than500 catalyst types, we have depositedadherent catalysts on stainless steel couponsand heat exchanger material.

The catalyst thickness controls the reformingand combustion reaction rates.

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

CH4 + H2O CO + 3H2

Catalyst(10-50µm)

Substrate(0.5mm) HEAT

Engineering a Better Return on Assets®

Compact Reformer for Hydrogen ProductionMartin Brown, Robert Judd, Angie Siddle