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US20030187310A1 - Fuel for fuel cell system - Google Patents

Fuel for fuel cell system Download PDF

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US20030187310A1
US20030187310A1 US10/297,934 US29793403A US2003187310A1 US 20030187310 A1 US20030187310 A1 US 20030187310A1 US 29793403 A US29793403 A US 29793403A US 2003187310 A1 US2003187310 A1 US 2003187310A1
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fuel
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fuel cell
hydrocarbons
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Kenichirou Saitou
Iwao Anzai
Osamu Sadakane
Michiro Matsubara
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Eneos Corp
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/50—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
    • C01B3/56—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
    • C01B3/58—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids including a catalytic reaction
    • C01B3/583—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids including a catalytic reaction the reaction being the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/48—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
    • C10L3/00—Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0205—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step
    • C01B2203/0227—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step
    • C01B2203/0233—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step the reforming step being a steam reforming step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/025—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a partial oxidation step
    • C01B2203/0261—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a partial oxidation step containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0283—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0435—Catalytic purification
    • C01B2203/044—Selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/047—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon monoxide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066—Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/08—Methods of heating or cooling
    • C01B2203/0805—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/085—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by electric heating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/10—Catalysts for performing the hydrogen forming reactions
    • C01B2203/1041—Composition of the catalyst
    • C01B2203/1047—Group VIII metal catalysts
    • C01B2203/1064—Platinum group metal catalysts
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1205—Composition of the feed
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1205—Composition of the feed
    • C01B2203/1211—Organic compounds or organic mixtures used in the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1217—Alcohols
    • C01B2203/1223—Methanol
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1205—Composition of the feed
    • C01B2203/1211—Organic compounds or organic mixtures used in the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1235—Hydrocarbons
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1288—Evaporation of one or more of the different feed components
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/16—Controlling the process
    • C01B2203/1642—Controlling the product
    • C01B2203/1647—Controlling the amount of the product
    • C01B2203/1652—Measuring the amount of product
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fuel to be used for a fuel cell system.
  • Methanol is advantageous in a point that it is relatively easy to reform, however power generation quantity per weight is low and owing to its toxicity, handling has to be careful. Further, it has a corrosive property, special facilities are required for its storage and supply.
  • a fuel to sufficiently utilize the performances of a fuel cell system has not yet been developed.
  • a fuel for a fuel cell system the following are required: power generation quantity per weight is high; power generation quantity per CO 2 emission is high; a fuel consumption is low in a fuel cell system as a whole; an evaporative gas (evapo-emission) is a little; deterioration of a fuel cell system comprising such as a reforming catalyst, a water gas shift reaction catalyst, a carbon monoxide conversion catalyst, fuel cell stacks and the like is scarce to keep the initial performances for a long duration; a starting time for the system is short; and storage of the system, storage stability and handling easiness are excellent.
  • the net power generation quantity of the entire fuel cell system is equivalent to the value calculated by subtracting the energy necessary for keeping the temperature (the energy for keeping balance endothermic and exothermic reaction following the preheating energy) from the actual power generation quantity. Consequently, if the temperature for the reforming is lower, the energy for preheating is low and that is therefore advantageous and further the system starting time is advantageously shortened. In addition, it is also necessary that the energy for preheating per fuel weight is low.
  • THC unreacted hydrocarbon
  • the present invention aims to provide a fuel suitable for a fuel cell system satisfying the above-described requirements in good balance.
  • Inventors of the present invention have extensively investigated to solve the above-described problems and found that a fuel comprising a specific amount of oxygenates (oxygen-containing compounds) and hydrocarbons with specific compositions of respective carbon atoms is suitable for a fuel cell system.
  • the fuel for a fuel cell system comprises:
  • the fuel comprising the specific amount of oxygenates described above and hydrocarbons with specific compositions is preferable to satisfy the following additional requirements;
  • a sulfur content is 50 ppm by mass or less
  • said hydrocarbons comprises 60 mol. % or more of saturates, 40 mol. % or less of olefins, 0.5 mol. % or less of butadiene, 0.1 mol. % or more of isoparaffin in saturates having carbon atoms of 4 or more.
  • heat capacity of the fuel is 1.7 kJ/kg ° C. or less at 15° C. in gaseous phase.
  • FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a steam reforming type fuel cell system employed for evaluation of a fuel for a fuel cell system of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a partial oxidation type fuel cell system employed for evaluation of a fuel for a fuel cell system of the invention.
  • the oxygenates contained the specific amount in the fuel mean alcohols having carbon numbers of 2 to 4, ethers having carbon numbers of 2 to 8 and the like. More particularly, the oxygenates include methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), tertiary amyl ethyl ether and the like.
  • MTBE methyl tertiary butyl ether
  • TAME tertiary amyl methyl ether
  • the content of these oxygenates is required to be 0.5 mass % or more in terms of an oxygen content based on the whole fuel in view of a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a small THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system and the like, and further is required to be 20 mass % or below taking into consideration of a balance of a power generation quantity per weight.
  • the fuel for a fuel cell system of the invention in addition to the oxygenates mentioned-above, is a mixture of the oxygenates and the hydrocarbons in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission and the like and an amount of formulation for hydrocarbons is 5 mol. % or more based on the whole fuel.
  • the composition of respective carbon atoms means that a content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 2 or less is 5 mol. % or less, a content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 3 and 4 in total is 90 mol. % or more, and a content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 5 or more is 5 mol. % or less.
  • the content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 2 or less is preferably 5 mol. % or less and more preferably 3 mol. % or less in relation to the storage, inflammability and evapo-emissiontand the like.
  • the content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 3 and 4 in total is 90 mol. % or more and more preferably 95 mol. % or more in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, and the like.
  • the content of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers of 5 or more is 5 mol. % or less and more preferably 2 mol. % or less in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, and the like.
  • compositions of respective carbon atoms mentioned above are values measured by JIS K 2240, “Liquefied Petroleum Gases 5.9 Methods for Chemical Composition Analysis”.
  • the content of sulfur in a fuel of the invention is not particularly restricted, however; because deterioration of a fuel cell system comprising such as a reforming catalyst, a water gas shift reaction catalyst, a carbon monoxide removal catalyst, fuel cell stacks, and the like can be suppressed to low and the initial performances can be maintained for a long duration, the content is preferably 50 ppm by mass or less, more preferably 10 ppm by mass or less, further more preferably 1 ppm by mass or less.
  • sulfur content means sulfur measured by JIS K. 2240, “Liquefied Petroleum Gases 5.5 or 5.6 Determination of sulfur content”.
  • the compositions for hydrocarbons are not particularly restricted, however, saturates (M(S)) is preferably 60 mol. % or more, olefins (M(O)) is preferably 40 mol. % or less, butadiene (M(B)) is 0.5 mol. % or less, isoparaffin (M(IP)) in saturates having carbon atoms of 4 or more is preferably 0.1 mol. % or more.
  • S saturates
  • M(O) preferably 40 mol. % or less
  • M(B)) is 0.5 mol. % or less
  • isoparaffin (M(IP)) in saturates having carbon atoms of 4 or more is preferably 0.1 mol. % or more.
  • the saturates (M(S)) is preferably 60 mol. % or more, more preferably 80 mol. % or more, further more preferably 95 mol. % or more and most preferably 99 mol. % or more in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, and the like.
  • the olefins (M(O)) is preferably 40 mol. % or less, more preferably 10 mol. % or less and most preferably 1 mol. % or less in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, a good storage stability, and the like.
  • the butadiene (M(B)) is preferably 0.5 mol. % or less and most preferably 0.1 mol. % or less in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, a good storage stability, and the like.
  • the isoparaffin (M(IP)) in saturates having carbon atoms of 4 or more is preferably 0.1 mol. % or more, more preferably 1 mol. % or more, furthermore preferably 10 mol. % or more, much more preferably 20 mol. % or more and most preferably 30 mol. % or more in view of a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, and the like.
  • vapor pressure of a fuel of the invention is not particularly restricted, however, it is preferably 1.55 MPa or less and more preferably 1.53 MPa or less at 40° C. in relation to the storage, inflammability and evapo-emission and the like.
  • the vapor pressure at 40° C. is measured by JIS K 2240, “Liquefied Petroleum Gases 5.4 Calculation method for density and vapor pressure”.
  • density of hydrocarbons contained in a fuel of the invention is not particularly restricted, however, it is preferably 0.620 g/cm 3 or less at 15° C. in view of a high power generation quantity per weight, a high power generation quantity per CO 2 emission, a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole, a low THC in an exhaust gas, short starting time of a system, small deterioration of a reforming catalyst to maintain the initial performances for a long duration, and the like, and more preferably 0.500 g/cm 3 or less to exhibit the effects of the invention.
  • the density at 15° C. is measured by JIS K 2240, “Liquefied Petroleum Gases 5.7 or 5.8 Calculation method for density and vapor pressure”.
  • the corrosiveness to copper of a fuel according to the invention is not particularly restricted, however, the corrosiveness thereof is preferable to 1 or less at 40° C. for 1 hour because deterioration of a fuel cell system comprising such as a reforming catalyst, a water gas shift reaction catalyst, a carbon monoxide removal catalyst, fuel cell stacks, and the like can be suppressed to low and the initial performances can be maintained for a long duration.
  • the corrosiveness to copper at 40° C. for 1 hour is measured by JIS K 2240, “Liquefied Petroleum Gas 5.10 Testing Method for Corrosiveness to copper”.
  • heat capacity of a fuel is not particularly restricted, however, the heat capacity is preferably 1.7 kJ/kg ⁇ ° C. or less at 15° C. and in gaseous phase in view of a low fuel consumption of a fuel cell system as a whole.
  • the heat capacity is measured by means of calorimeters such as water calorimeter, ice calorimeter, vacuum calorimeter, adiabatic calorimeter and the like.
  • a production method for the fuel of the invention is not particularly restricted.
  • the fuel can be prepared by including the specific amount of oxygenates defined in the invention in one or more of the following hydrocarbon base materials.
  • the hydrocarbons can be produced, for example, by the following hydrocarbon base materials; a straight-run propane fraction containing propane as a main component obtained by treating heavy oils with a distillation apparatus, naphtha reforming apparatus and the like, a straight-run desulfurized propane fraction obtained by desulfurizing the straight-run propane fraction, a straight-run butane fraction containing butane as a main component obtained by treating heavy oils with a distillation apparatus, naphtha reforming apparatus, alkylation apparatus and the like, a straight-run desulfurized butane fraction obtained by desulfurizing the straight-run butane fraction, a cracked propane fraction containing propane and propylene as main components obtained by cracking heavy oils with a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus (FCC) and the like, a cracked but
  • FCC fluid catalytic
  • preferable materials as the base materials for the production of the fuel of the invention are the straight-run desulfurized propane fraction, the straight-run desulfurized butane fraction and the like, and dimethylether and methanol.
  • a fuel of the invention is to be employed as a fuel for a fuel cell system.
  • a fuel cell system mentioned herein comprises a reformer for a fuel, a carbon monoxide conversion apparatus, fuel cells and the like, however, a fuel of the invention may be suitable for any fuel cell system.
  • the reformer is an apparatus for obtaining hydrogen, by reforming a fuel. Practical examples of the reformer are:
  • a steam reforming type reformer for obtaining products of mainly hydrogen by treating a heated and vaporized fuel and steam with a catalyst such as copper, nickel, platinum, ruthenium and the like;
  • a partial oxidation type reformer for obtaining products of mainly hydrogen by treating a heated and vaporized fuel and air with or without a catalyst such as copper, nickel, platinum, ruthenium and the like;
  • an auto thermal reforming type reformer for obtaining products of mainly hydrogen by treating a heated and vaporized fuel, steam and air, which carries out the partial oxidation of (2) in the prior stage and carries out the steam type reforming of (1) in the posterior stage while using the generated heat of the partial oxidation reaction with a catalyst such as copper, nickel, platinum, ruthenium and the like.
  • the carbon monoxide conversion apparatus is an apparatus for removing carbon monoxide which is contained in a gas produced by the above-described reformer and becomes a catalyst poison in a fuel cell and practical examples thereof are:
  • a water gas shift reactor for obtaining carbon dioxide and hydrogen as products from carbon monoxide and steam by reacting a reformed gas and steam in the presence of a catalyst of such as copper, nickel, platinum, ruthenium and the like;
  • a preferential oxidation reactor for converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide by reacting a reformed gas and compressed air in the presence of a catalyst of such as platinum, ruthenium and the like, and these are used singly or jointly.
  • PEFC proton exchange membrane type fuel cell
  • PAFC phosphoric acid type fuel cell
  • MCFC molten carbonate type fuel cell
  • SOFC solid oxide type fell cell
  • the above-described fuel cell system can be employed for an electric automobile, a hybrid automobile comprising a conventional engine and electric power, a portable power source, a dispersion type power source, a power source for domestic use, a cogeneration system and the like.
  • a fuel and water were evaporated by electric heating and led to a reformer filled with a noble metal type catalyst and kept at a prescribed temperature by an electric heater to generate a reformed gas enriched with hydrogen.
  • the temperature of the reformer was adjusted to be the minimum temperature (the minimum temperature at which no THC was contained in a reformed gas) at which reforming was completely carried out in an initial stage of the test.
  • a reformed gas was led to a carbon monoxide conversion apparatus (a water gas shift reaction) to convert carbon monoxide in the reformed gas to carbon dioxide and then the produced gas was led to a solid polymer type fuel cell to carry out power generation.
  • a carbon monoxide conversion apparatus a water gas shift reaction
  • FIG. 1 A flow chart of a steam reforming type fuel cell system employed for the evaluation was illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • a fuel is evaporated by electric heating and together with air, the evaporated fuel was led to a reformer filled with a noble metal type catalyst and kept at a 1100° C. by an electric heater to generate a reformed gas enriched with hydrogen.
  • FIG. 2 A flow chart of a partial oxidation type fuel cell system employed for the evaluation was illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • a fuel of the invention comprising a specific amount of oxygenates and hydrocarbons with specific compositions of respective carbon atoms has performances with small deterioration by using in a fuel cell system and can provide high output of electric energy and other than that, the fuel can satisfy a variety of performances for a fuel cell system.

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  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
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US10/297,934 2000-06-29 2001-06-29 Fuel for fuel cell system Abandoned US20030187310A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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