Miniature Jet Fuel Desulfurizer for Fuel Cell Power Systems
On-Board Miniature Jet Fuel Desulfurizer for Lightweight Fuel Cell Power Systems
Fuel cells are one of the most efficient electrical power generation technologies available and are capable of utilizing Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8) as a fuel source. JP-8 is a jet fuel that is widely used by the Air Force and Army, as specified by Army Regulation AR 70-12. In fact, due to the availability of JP-8, utilization of the fuel with fuel cells is desirable for efficient, available, mobile power generation. The combination of jet fuel and fuel cells has a huge economic advantage to the Air Force and Army. Unfortunately, JP-8 contains sulfur, which results in sulfur poisoning of equipment and damages the fuel cell electrode. Therefore, removal of such sulfur is required before JP-8 can be used as a fuel source for fuel cells. Furthermore, due to sulfur corrosion, the presence of sulfur in aviation fuels adds significant amount of maintenance cost to equipment that uses sulfur-containing fuel. To enable the Army to use fuel cells with the most prevalent battlefield fuel, and for the Air Force and other users to reduce equipment maintenance cost, we have developed a lightweight, miniaturized desulfurizer that is capable of removing sulfur from JP-8 and other liquid fuels in a more convenient and more portable way than existing stationary methods. With our successfully developed desulfurization technology, readily available JP-8 as well as other hydrocarbon fuels can be used as a compatible fuel source for fuel cells, such as solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC).
The objectives of the project are to: (1) optimize the reactor design and manufacturing process to provide a conceptual system design for identified end-user/customer applications; (2) conduct detailed tests to evaluate the desulfurizer performance using various sorbent materials and operating conditions; and (3) investigate the thermal stability of the desulfurized fuel against fouling and coking. The main benefits of the portable, on-board desulfurizer include its minimal weight and its ability to enable the utilization of logistics fuels which normally contain sulfur for fuel cell power generation. The desulfurization technology is a strong candidate for supporting multiple mission needs for the USAF and the Army, including for creating a readily available supply of low sulfur fuels (ULSD, less than 15ppm, ASTM D975) for vehicles and support equipment and for enabling utilization of 250W-10kW fuel cell power systems in the field (which require less than 1ppm sulfur).