SBIR Phase I: Methanation of Diesel Fuels

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段研究项目将开发和演示用于重整Tier II柴油燃料的基于微晶石的催化反应器的概念验证，使其除了CO和H2之外还含有或=10%的CH 4，而不会形成焦炭。 所提出的反应器将取代目前对二次甲烷化和相关支持组件的需求，降低成本和效率损失。 该项目将研究的关键技术挑战包括确定馏分燃料适宜的甲烷化条件以及有利于直接甲烷化途径的催化剂性能动力学。实现足够稳健、高效和低成本的适用于SOFC/MCFC的液体燃料重整将有助于将这些燃料电池技术用于运输应用。成本障碍仍然是使用燃料电池的关键障碍，这一提议的进步提供了大大简化改革价值链。最初的主要应用将是商用卡车APU和军用船舶。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will develop and demonstrate proof-of-concept of a Microlith-based catalytic reactor for reforming Tier II Diesel fuel such that it contains or =10% CH4 in addition to CO and H2 without allowing coke formation. The proposed reactor will displace the current need for secondary methanation and associated support components, cost and efficiency loss. Key technical challenges to be examined in the project include identifying appropriate methanation-favored conditions for distillate fuels as well as the kinetics of catalyst performance that favor direct methanation pathways.Achieving sufficiently robust, efficient and low cost reforming of liquid fuels suitable for SOFC/MCFCs would help enable the ready use of these fuel cell technologies for transportation applications. Cost barriers remain key barriers to use of fuel cells, and this proposed advance offers to substantially simplify the reforming value train. Key initial applications would be for commercial truck APUs and military ships.