Fuel Cell Technology Posters

Hydrogen Production from Infrastructure and Alternative Fuels

L. Miller, S.H.D. Lee, D. Papadias, D. Applegate, S. Ahmed

Fuel cells are being developed to generate electric power for many stationary and mobile applications. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell being considered for these systems require high purity hydrogen as the fuel, and an assortment of hydrogen production pathways are being investigated. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is an infrastructure fuel that is widely used in the U.S. to meet small and distributed energy needs in both urban and rural settings. Operating fuel cells with hydrogen produced on-demand from LPG will enable the deployment of fuel cell heat and power to meet residential and rural needs. We are studying the reforming of LPG to produce hydrogen and to establish the fundamental engineering parameters for fuel processor designs. Ethanol is an alternative fuel, which when derived from biomass is an attractive renewable fuel, and its wide usage can reduce the nation’s consumption of fossil fuel. We are studying the production of hydrogen from ethanol by reforming at high pressures. The higher pressures are advantageous for hydrogen purification options but are challenged with the constraints of pressurized systems. This R&D effort will define desirable operating conditions that lead to an effective ethanol fuel processor. The Chemical Engineering Division’s Fuel Cell Department has been at the forefront of fuel processing for fuel cells within the DOE’s national laboratory complex.

This work is funded by the DOE’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies program.

Contact Shabbir Ahmed (630-252-4553, ahmed@cmt.anl.gov). View Poster

High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Based on Dendritic Macromolecules and Organic/Inorganic Hybrids

Suhas G. Niyogi, Seong-Woo Choi, Deborah J. Myers, and Romesh Kumar

Investigation to develop the state-of-the-art electrolyte for PEMFC for vehicular traction operating at temperatures above 80 ^oC and low relative humidity continues world wide. We have continued with our dendrimeric approach and have successfully prepared various sizes of polyaryl ether dendrimers. Sulfonated dendrimers are rigid, soluble in water and provide non-continuous films. Continuous films, however, have been prepared from these robust polyaryl ether dendritic macromolecules by assembling them on to a commercial polymer backbone. We have succeeded in utilizing various sizes of such dendritic wedges to obtain water insoluble polymer electrolytes using post sulfonation technique. Their cation exchange capacities, thermal stabilities, moisture absorption and retention capabilities have been determined and compared against perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer electrolyte. Preliminary conductivity data of these dendritic electrolytes are.encouraging.

Contact Suhas Niyogi (630-252-4510, niyogi@cmt.anl.gov. View Poster

High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production. Materials Development for Improved Efficiency and Durability

Jennifer Mawdsley and Deborah Myers

High-temperature steam electrolysis using heat from a nuclear reactor is one route being investigated as a means to make affordable hydrogen. This process splits water with a combination of heat and electrical energy using the technology of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)..To perform steam electrolysis, the electrochemical potential of an SOFC is reversed from that of fuel cell mode, the feed stream is 90% steam/10% hydrogen, and the operation temperature is between 700 and 900°C.The traditional SOFC has been optimized for performance at 1000°C. The oxygen electrode material of a traditional SOFC, strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM), has limited oxygen ion conductivity at temperatures below 1000°C, thus limiting its electrochemical performance at lower temperatures. We are investigating alternative materials for improved oxygen electrode performance below 1000ºC by exploring materials with significant ionic conductivity at these temperatures. Our results have shown that strontium-doped lanthanum cobaltites and ferrites have lower area specific resistances than commercially available LSM-based materials at temperatures between 800 and 900°C. We are currently working to optimize the performance of our cobaltites and ferrites by engineering the microstructure using functionally graded compositions and particle sizes.

This work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.

Contact Jennifer Mawdsley (630-252-4608, mawdsley@cmt.anl.gov. View Poster

Advanced Fuel Processing Catalysts for Hydrogen Production and Fuel Cell Systems

Magali Ferrandon, Jennifer Mawdsley, John Krebs, and Theodore Krause

Fuel cells are regarded as an efficient and clean alternative to fuel combustion for generating electricity for stationary and mobile applications. The lack of a hydrogen infrastructure has stimulated research to develop new fuel processing technologies capable of reforming infrastructure fuels, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, or diesel, as well as renewable fuels such as bioethanol, to provide hydrogen at the “point of application.. The objectives of this research are to develop advanced catalysts that meet the activity and durability targets for use in fuel processing applications and to develop a better understanding of catalytic reforming reaction mechanisms through kinetic and characterization studies.

Funding for this project is provided by the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Contact Magali Ferrandon (630-252-6260, ferrandon@cmt.anl.gov View Poster

Bipolar Plate-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. "TuffCell"

J. David Carter, Deborah Myers, and Romesh Kumar

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are attractive power sources for vehicular auxiliary power applications because they exhibit high power densities and efficiencies, have simplified fuel reforming requirements, and are fuel-flexible. These SOFC-based power systems are viewed as being ideal for auxiliary power units (APUs) for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. The SOFCs presently being developed use the anode or electrolyte as the cell support. We have developed an SOFC design concept, TuffCell, that uses a metallic bipolar plate as the cell and stack support. The TuffCell offers an inherently more rugged design than the anode- or electrolyte-supported designs, and the potential for much lower manufacturing costs.

Contact Dave Carter (630-252-4544, carter@cmt.anl.gov). View Poster

Catalysts and Fuel Mixing for Diesel Reformer in a Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit

Di-Jia Liu, Michael Krumpelt, Haul-Te Chien, and Shuh-Haw Sheen

Recent advent in onboard fuel cell auxiliary power unit (FCAPU) have created a new thrust in diesel reforming technology development to generate hydrogen-rich reformate as the fuel gas for FCAPU. We report here our recent progress in developing a catalytic autothermal diesel reforming (ATR) reactor system for solid oxide fuel cell APU application. The effort includes the exploration of new catalyst material and the investigation of key reformer components such as fuel injector and fuel mixing.

This work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy, Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance, and by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program.

Contact Mike Krumpelt for more information on the reforming work (630-252-8520, krumpelt@cmt.anl.gov) or Shuh-Haw Sheen for more information on the mixing facility (630-252-5202, sheen@anl.gov).  View Poster