An onboard
fuel cell hydrogen car reformer is a device that can take hydrocarbon
liquid fuels (such as gasoline, propane, biodiesel, ethanol and biobutanol) and
“convert” them into hydrogen gas that can be used to power a hydrogen fuel cell
vehicle. The trick is to make them small enough to fit within the confines of a
vehicle without sacrificing cargo and/or passenger space. Further, they need to
have quick enough startup-to-hydrogen-production-speed to make them useful and
acceptable for normal everyday transportation. No one wants to sit motionless in
the driveway for 5 or 10 minutes waiting for the fuel to be made so the car can
go.
Steam Reformers
One approach, and perhaps the most common is traditional steam reforming. With
this method, fuel high in hydrocarbons is reacted with a supply of steam over a
catalyst bed. The ensuing reaction strips hydrogen atoms from the steam/fuel
mixture and they are then fed to the fuel cell stack for electricity generation.
Though the steam method has traditionally been plagued by slow startup times and
occasional fouling by “dirty” fuel feedstock, continual developments have
brought these times (yes that’s the “waiting for the fuel to be made so the car
can go times”) from highs of 12 or more minutes down to as low as 10 seconds.
Not fantastic, but reasonably close to acceptable.
El Paso, Texas
Brazil, Brasilia
New Jersey, USA
Switzerland, Bern
Wodonga, Victoria
Vanuatu, Port Vila
Equatorial Guinea
Santa Rosa, California
Barbados, Bridgetown
Comoros, Moroni (on Grande Comoro)
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