GLTRS--Glenn
TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Bench-Scale Monolith Autothermal Reformer Catalyst Screening Evaluations in a Micro-Reactor With Jet-A Fuel

AUTHOR(S):
Thomas M. Tomsik, Judy C.H. Yen, and John R. Budge

REPORT DATE:
May 2006

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-22-708-02-07

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-15536

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-2006-214254

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Thomas M. Tomsik, NASA Glenn Research Center; Judy C.H. Yen, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft Street, Toledo, Ohio 43606; and John R. Budge, SOFCo-EFS Holdings LLC, 1562 Beeson Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601. Responsible person, Thomas M. Tomsik, organization code RTP, 216-977-9715.

ABSTRACT:
Solid oxide fuel cell systems used in the aerospace or commercial aviation environment require a compact, light-weight and highly durable catalytic fuel processor. The fuel processing method considered here is an autothermal reforming (ATR) step. The ATR converts Jet-A fuel by a reaction with steam and air forming hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) to be used for production of electrical power in the fuel cell. This paper addresses the first phase of an experimental catalyst screening study, looking at the relative effectiveness of several monolith catalyst types when operating with untreated Jet-A fuel. Six monolith catalyst materials were selected for preliminary evaluation and experimental bench-scale screening in a small 0.05 kWe micro-reactor test apparatus. These tests were conducted to assess relative catalyst performance under atmospheric pressure ATR conditions and processing Jet-A fuel at a steam-to-carbon ratio of 3.5, a value higher than anticipated to be run in an optimized system. The average reformer efficiencies for the six catalysts tested ranged from 75 to 83 percent at a constant gas-hourly space velocity of 12,000 hr-1. The corresponding hydrocarbon conversion efficiency varied from 86 to 95 percent during experiments run at reaction temperatures between 750 to 830 °C. Based on the results of the short-duration 100 hr tests reported herein, two of the highest performing catalysts were selected for further evaluation in a follow-on 1000 hr life durability study in Phase II.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Jet engine fuels; Solid oxide fuel cells; Catalysts; Energy conversion; Fuel cell power plants; ATR Reactor; JP-jet fuel

NUMBER OF PAGES:
29

PDF AVAILABLE FROM URL:
2006/TM-2006-214254.pdf ( 1,902 KB )
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