Acknowledgements Financial support obtained from The

Swedish Energy Agency, is gratefully

acknowledged.

Hydrogen produced in an on-board fuel processor for

automotive applications Angélica V. González Arcos and Lars J. Pettersson

KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Technology,

SE-10044 Stockholm (Sweden)

For further Information Please contact Angélica González

Tel: +46-87909150

E-mail address: avga@kth.se.

More information on this and related

projects can be obtained at:

http://researchprojects.kth.se/index.php/kb_

7863/oe_8042/oe.html

What we do? Development of a compact heat integrated fuel reformer to achieve good packing and high efficiency in an

Auxiliary power unit system, shown in Fig. 1. Analyze the impact of the addition of biofuels on the reformer

performance and catalyst activity e. g. US06, DIN590EN, Fischer-Tropsch fuels and biodiesel such as rapeseed

methyl ester (RME).

After the fuel reformer additional units are present, like the high and

low temperature water gas shift units (HT-WGS and LT-WGS) to

increase the hydrogen production and CO clean-up units such as

preferential oxidation (PrOX) to avoid poisoning of the fuel cell

catalyst.

Fig. 1 Hydrogen fuel cell based APU for transport applications

APU

Fuel processor APU in Truck

Using RME for hydrogen production by autothermal reforming is a

viable process with a H2 production of 28-32 %, shown in Fig. 4 .

By increasing O2/C ratio, formation of CO increases due to the reverse water gas shift reaction at 700-800°C, while the

concentration of CO2 decreases.

Regarding temperature profiles similar results can be seen as

previous works in our laboratory [3].

Fig. 3 Autothermal reformer

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

H2 CO2 CO N2

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mo

l %)

Product gas composition

RME (H2O/C=2,5, O2/C=0,25)

RME (H2O/C=2,5, O2/C=0,3)

RME (H2O/C=2,5, O2/C=0,35)

RME (H2O/C=2,5, O2/C=0,4)

ATR reactions, steam reforming and partial oxidation of the fuel, are

enhance by controlling the oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O2/C) and the

steam-to-carbon ratio (H2O/C) in the reformer.

Variation of these operating parameters is used to determine the

potential influence of the fuel mixture on the reformate (product

gas) quality and the optimal operating conditions.

The reforming process in an on-board fuel

processor is carried out through an autothermal

reforming (ATR) process in structured monolithic

catalysts, shown in Fig.2.

Fig. 4 Operating parameter study using RME

H2 Fuel Cell

Why? Global warming is mainly cause by the greenhouse

gas emissions e.g. CO2, CO, NOx. It has been

reported that 23% of CO2 emissions came from the

transport sector [1]. The 80% of that comes from

heavy-duty trucks, which can operate the engine

for more than 50% at idle mode.

Alternative solution… Replacing the engine idling with a small fuel cell auxiliary

power unit (APU) is today considered by the automotive

industry as the most viable alternative for idle reduction, as

shown in Fig. 1.

Hydrogen produced in an on-board fuel processor by a

catalytic reforming process is a valid alternative to

overcome limitations such as storage and transport [2].

ATR

HT-WGS

LT-WGS

PrOX 1

PrOX 2

Fig. 2 Monolithic substratesr

Reforming while using noble metal catalysts e.g.

Rh, Ru, Pt, ensure the high conversion, and

selectivity of the fuel, e.g. diesel and alternative

fuels like RME. Fig. 3 show the fuel reformer

Idling is the use of the engine, for non-propulsion

purposes, to support the comfort functions in the

vehicle, i.e. microwave, air conditioning, lighting,

audio equipment.

Engine idling is both fuel inefficient as well as a significant

contributor of exhaust emissions.

Literature cited

[1] Greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the transport sector,

in International transport Forum 2008.

[2] I. Kang, J. Bae, J. Power Sources. 159 (2006), 1283-1290.

[3] X. Karatzas, M. Nilsson, J. Dawody, B. Lindström, L.J.

Pettersson. Chem. Eng. J. 156 (2010), 366-379.

How ?