Compact Integrated Fuel Processor for Fuel Cells

A compact, chemical process unit for converting liquid hydrocarbons to hydrogen for fuel cells can be deployed for automobiles and other mobile systems. (click on red boxes of above diagram to see components) This system consists of "sheets" of many parallel micro-scale features which are used to perform needed operations such as steam reforming and/or partial oxidation, water-gas shift reaction, carbon monoxide oxidation, heat exchange, and sulfur sorption. The superior temperature control enabled by micro-channel processing results in excellent thermal integration and system control. Possible applications include small fuel cell systems for automobiles, man-portable generation, and distributed power generation.