Advanced multi-fuel REformer for CHP-fuel CELL systems

In the European project called ReForCELL, SINTEF, together with leading European companies and research institutes, develops a membrane reformer to be used for production of extremely pure hydrogen (99,99%). This reformer has a wide range of application areas, several with high relevance for the Norwegian energy and transportation system. According to EnergiX program plan, the use of natural gas for hydrogen production is an area with comparative advantages for Norway. The membrane reformer developed in this project is a promising technology for hydrogen production with CO2 capture. Furthermore, this project relates to both of the topics mentioned in the RENERGI call under the thematic area -alternative energy carriers-, namely technology for production of hydrogen as well as fuel cells for stationary applications. SINTEF is work package leader for the WP on membrane development, where work now is on-going related to membrane development and their integration of membrane reformers. TECNALIA has produced 20 membrane tubes which have been sent to HYGEAR for implementation in a pilot test unit together with a PEM fuel cell (M38). SINTEFs task in the project is to develop Pd-alloy membranes into flat plate reactors with micro channel supports both with and without a porous metal support. A small scale membrane reactor (ca 50 cm2 membrane area) including up-scaling of the test equipment in the SINTEF lab to facilitate testing of the new reactor has been build. During the first 40 months of the project, SINTEF's Pd-alloy membranes have been tested in a small scale micro-channel test cell in order to determine the maximum operating conditions for the SINTEF membranes in a micro channel reactor (w/wo metal support layer to increase pressure stability range). The work on the micro channel configured supports with and without catalyst integrated, is going on as planned and the pressure stability has now been increased to 15 bars. The performance of the catalyst has been shown to be limited by H2 removal rate, probably due to concentration polarization effects in catalytic bed. Improved temperature stability has been obtained. Testing is continued in the lab, both to understand more of the catalyst and to increase operation temperature further. The results will be presented in the ICCMR conference in Poland in June 2015.

The REforCELL project aims at developing a high efficient m-CHP system based on: i) design, construction and testing of an advanced reformer for pure hydrogen production with optimization of all the components of the reformer (catalysts, membranes, heat m anagement, etc) and ii) the design and optimization of all the components for the connection of the membrane reformer to the fuel cell stack. Different technological issues need to be solved to improve the performance and reduce the cost of membrane reac tors for ATR reaction (MR-ATR). In particular, cheap and stable catalyst can be developed, membrane stability and flux can be optimized, the use of adequate reactor design will allow the decrease of external mass transfer limitations, which results in mor e efficient use of the high performance membranes. Coupling of the membrane reactor within a CHP system should be optimized and tested, and the reliability of the membrane reactor assessed. To reach these ambitious goals, the Consortium is built-up on th e expertises of 10 European organizations. In line with the SP1-JTI-FCH.2010.3.3 call expectations, these organizations can be categorized in different profiles offering complementary skills to achieve the REforCELL objectives: 3 Research institutes (TECN ALIA-INAS, CEA and SINTEF), 2 Universities (TU/e and POLIMI), 1 SME catalyst supplier (HYBRID), 1 SME hydrogen engineering (HYGEAR), 1 SME stack supplier (SOPRANO) and end user (ICI) and 1 SME for LCA studies (QUANTIS). SINTEF?s role in the current proje ct is related to the development and integration of membrane reformers. In this field, SINTEF has contributed significantly with their patented membrane fabrication technology. In order to overcome external gas phase limitations SINTEF will develop a nove l membrane module design in order to improve the membrane flux by overcoming external mass transfer limitations. In the project, SINTEF is leader for the work package on membrane development.