High Performance Fuel Processor Development for Fuel Cell Systems

这项研究将使用多尺度建模和实验方法来设计重整器，这将显着提高效率并降低以液体燃料运行的燃料电池系统的成本。大多数工业催化化学反应器被设计用于大规模稳态操作，其中目标是实现最大的产物产率和催化剂寿命。另一方面，用于燃料电池系统的燃料处理器必须能够响应变化的负载，快速启动和关闭，并捕获尽可能多的废热，以实现最大效率。这些要求表明需要重新考虑重整催化剂的特性，并定义新的催化剂配置材料和方法，以实现快速响应、优异的热传递和停-启和非稳态操作的合理耐久性。为了实现这些目标，我们将设计具有导热性，孔隙率和催化活性之间的最佳平衡的多孔纳米材料。通过优化这些性能并将催化剂作为涂层部署在热交换表面上，将实现反应器性能的显著改善。然而，这需要对发生在微米和纳米尺度上的传输和反应过程有更深入的了解。15名学生和博士后研究员将接受催化和反应器设计基本原理的培训;在化学工业中具有广泛应用的技能。他们还将认识到提高效率、减少环境影响和为整个社会提供清洁能源的重要性。该研究的目标是开发高效可靠的柴油重整器，使价格经济的柴油燃料电池系统商业化，以取代目前为加拿大偏远社区和工作场所提供电力的对环境有害的柴油内燃机发电机组。在加拿大远北地区提供清洁电力将产生新的经济活动，同时保护我们国家在这些环境敏感的荒野地区的主权。

This research will use a multi-scale modelling and experimental approach to the design of reformers that will significantly improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of fuel cell systems operating on liquid fuels. Most industrial catalytic chemical reactors are designed for large scale steady-state operation where the objective is to achieve maximum product yield and catalyst lifetime. On the other hand, a fuel processor for a fuel cell system must be able to respond to a changing load, start up and shut down quickly and capture as much waste heat as possible to achieve maximum efficiency. These requirements indicate the need to rethink the characteristics of reforming catalysts and define new materials and methods of catalyst deployment that allow for fast response, excellent heat transfer and reasonable durability for stop-start and non-steady state operation. To achieve these goals we will design porous nanomaterials with the optimal balance between thermal conductivity, porosity and catalytic activity. By optimizing these properties and deploying the catalyst as a coating on a heat exchange surface significant improvements in reactor performance will be achieved. This, however, requires developing a deeper understanding of the transport and reaction processes occurring on the Micro and Nano scale. Fifteen students and postdoctoral fellows will receive training in the fundamental principles of catalysis and reactor design; skills that have a wide range of application in the chemical industry. They will also be made aware of the importance of improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and providing clean energy for society in general. The goal of the research is to develop efficient and reliable diesel reformers that will enable the commercialization of economically priced diesel-fuelled fuel cell systems to displace the environmentally harmful fleet of diesel combustion engine powered generators that currently provide power for remote communities and work sites in Canada. Providing clean electrical power in areas such as Canada's Far North will generate new economic activity while protecting our nation's sovereignty in these environmentally sensitive wilderness regions.