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Novel Water Neutral Diesel
Fuel Processor and Sulfur Trap--Precision Combustion, Inc., 410 Sackett Point Road, North Haven, CT 06473-3106; 203-287-3700; www.precision-combustion.com
Mr. Subir
Roychoudhury, Principal Investigator, sroychoudhury@precision-combustion.com
Mr. John Scanlon, Business
Official, jscanlon@precision-combustion.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-07ER84674
Amount: $99,964
This
project will develop a thermally-integrated, compact, efficient, and durable
diesel reformer, steam generator, and sulfur trap. The system will operate at steam-to-carbon
ratios low enough to allow overall water-neutral operation, while being
resistant to coking and fuel sulfur.
Anticipated performance levels include high conversion efficiency with
minimized pumping losses, 5000 hour durability, and overall low cost –
consistent with meeting overall targets of <$600/kW for the full APU fuel
cell system. The system will be operated
via a control algorithm permitting startup with a 12 V battery at ambient
conditions with no air/steam/fuel preheat.
Phase I will address the key performance requirements of an integrated
diesel fuel processor that contains a diesel/air/steam injector, mixer,
vaporizer, catalytic reforming reactor, igniter, heat exchanger, steam
generator, and sulfur trap. By the end
of Phase II, the full system will be demonstrated.
Commercial
Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The
diesel reformer should provide a breakthrough in delivering a
commercially-viable diesel-fuel processor, removing a primary barrier to use of
fuel cells in diesel-fueled vehicles.
Entry markets include the Class 8 truck and RV APU segments, with
broader opportunities in emissions control and future fuel cell drive systems.