Performance of a 5 kWe fuel processor for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

This paper covers the research activities performed at the CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano”, aimed at developing, assembling and testing a hydrogen generator HYGen II, to integrate with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) for stationary applications. The unit can convert light hydrocarbons (methane, propane, LPG, butane), with a nominal hydrogen production of 5 Nm3 h−1 and a maximum hydrogen production of 8.5 Nm3 h−1. Prototyping design issues and preliminary experimental results, with a proprietary Pt/CeO2 catalyst for the autothermal reforming (ATR) and commercial catalysts for intermediate water gas shift (ITWS) and preferential oxidation (PROX), have been reported.