An Integrated Chemical Reforming Microplant for Fuel Cell Applications

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The goal of this Engineering Microsystems: "XYZ" on a Chip project is to investigate microfabricated fuel cells. Miniature fuel processors for in situ hydrogen production are of particular interest in compact fuel cells, which are currently being considered as alternative power sources for portable devices. In this project an integrated design including microfabrication and control of a prototype catalytic microreaction system for methanol fuel reforming will be carried out. The main components of the fuel processor are mixer/vaporizer, catalytic steam reformer, water-gas shift reactor, and integrated heaters/sensors with control electronics. These components will be microfabricated on a single silicon wafer. A fundamental understanding and characterization of the integrated microplant will complement the experimental program. Rigorous models will be developed for the poorly understood characteristics of catalytic microreactor structures and membrane-based reaction/permeation microreaction schemes. Low-order models will be developed from measured input/output data for synthesizing and implementing external supervisory model-based multivariable feedback control algorithms through the electronic interface of the microplant. From the results of the research, new concepts in catalytic and membrane-based catalytic microreactors, microreactor feedback control, and miniature fuel processing hydrogen delivery systems for fuel cells will be developed. It is anticipated that these new interdisciplinary concepts will open new areas of fundamental and applied research in miniature integrated catalytic chemical processing systems, while introducing new educational themes in electronic processing, microfabrication, reaction engineering, process design, and process control.