https://cmapspublic3.ihmc.us/rid=1N3976C22-12M3P49-9V/Holladay%20et%20al.%20-%202009%20-%20An%20overview%20of%20hydrogen%20production%20technologies.pdf

An overview of hydrogen production technologies

Review article covering developments in methanol steam reforming in the context of PEM fuel cell power systems. Subjects covered include methanol background, use, and production, comparison to other fuels, power system considerations, militrary requirements, competing technologies, catalyst development, and reactor and system development and demonstration.

Methanol steam reforming for hydrogen production.

▪ Abstract After a brief survey of fuel cell types, attention is focused on material requirements for SOFC and PEMFC stacks, with an introductory section on materials technology for reformers. Materials cost and processing, together with durability issues, are emphasized as these now dominate materials selection processes for prototype stack units. In addition to optimizing the cell components, increasing attention is being given to the composition and processing of the bipolar plate component as the weight and volume of the relevant material has a major influence on the overall power density and cost of the fuel cell stack. It is concluded that the introduction of alternative materials/processes that would enable PEMFC stacks to operate at 150–200°C, and IT-SOFC stacks to operate at 500–700°C, would have a major impact on the successful commercialization of fuel cell technology.

Recent Advances in Materials for Fuel Cells

The selective catalytic conversion of biomass-derived syngas into ethanol is thermodynamically feasible at temperatures below roughly 350 °C at 30 bar. However, if methane is allowed as a reaction product, the conversion to ethanol (or other oxygenates) is extremely limited. Experimental results show that high selectivities to ethanol are only achieved at very low conversions, typically less than 10%. The most promising catalysts for the synthesis of ethanol are based on Rh, though some other formulations (such as modified methanol synthesis catalysts) show promise. (Critical review—173 references.)

Finn Joensen

Papers

Conversion of hydrocarbons and alcohols for fuel cells