| Army Communications-Electronics Command |
Army Communications-Electronics Command — Fuel processor development for a soldier-portable fuel cell system.
Under this project we are developing a 15-We fuel processing system suitable for portable power applications. The need arises from a desire to reduce the weight and bulk, and thus increase the mobility and effectiveness of the Army's combat divisions. This portable power source is expected to provide a clean hydrogen stream to a small fuel cell according to the following target specifications.
| Target specifications for soldier-portable power system | ||
| Average Power | 15 W | |
| Peak Power | 25 W | |
| Volume | < 100 cm3 | |
| Weight (excluding fuel) | < 1 kg | |
For military use, the system will ultimately operate on diesel or some other logistics fuel. However, for commercial use and the first military applications, the fuel of choice is methanol. Not only can methanol be reformed at lower temperatures than other hydrocarbons, but it also is miscible with water, which is a key issue in fuel storage and delivery. The lower reforming temperatures of methanol allow for lower heat losses, require less insulation, and simplify the thermal management of the integrated system.
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