Abstract
We report a MEMS-based fuel reformer for supplying hydrogen to micro-fuel cells for portable applications. A combustor and a reforming chamber are fabricated at either side of a suspended membrane structure. This design is used to improve the overall thermal efficiency, which is a critical issue to realize a micro-fuel reformer. The suspended membrane structure design provided good thermal isolation. The micro-heaters consumed 0.97W to maintain the reaction zone of the MEMS-based fuel reformer at 200 oC, but further power saving is necessary by improving design and fabrication. The conversion rate of methanol to hydrogen was about 19% at 180° C by using evaporated copper as a reforming catalyst. The catalytic combustion of hydrogen started without any assistance of micro-heaters. By feeding the fuel mixture of an equivalence ratio of 0.35, the temperature of the suspended membrane structure was maintained stable at 100°C with a combustion efficiency of 30%. In future works, we will test a micro-fuel reformer by using a micro-combustor to supply heat. Keywords : Micro-fuel reformer, Steam reforming, Thermal management, Fuel cell, Suspended membrane reactor.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 346-350 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | IEEJ Transactions on Sensors and Micromachines |
| Volume | 123 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Keywords
- Fuel cell
- Micro-fuel reformer
- Steam reforming
- Suspended membrane reactor
- Thermal management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering