Objective
Hydrogen is foreseen to be the energy vector of the future. However, there are still significant barriers to store and transport hydrogen, especially in small portable applications. The success of a portable Fuel Cell system depends to a large extent on the fuel supply that should be accomplished in a cost-effective and comfortable manner.
The present project proposes a power supply comprising a methanol steam reformer and high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) operating at the same temperature. The heat integration of these two units originates an increase of up to 14% of the overall efficiency; when reformer and fuel cell operate at the same temperature, the heat involved in the endothermic steam reforming reaction can be supplied by the highly exothermic fuel cell. Moreover, the heat integration also originates a much simpler and compact unit and then robust power supply that can meet and exceed the targets defined by the project call. Because the catalyst characteristics and the low operating temperature, the reformer originates a reformate stream poor in CO (<0.1%), which increases the performance and lifetime of the fuel cell. This remarkable improvement is primarily possible because the development achieved by a team member of a very high active methanol steam reforming catalyst family that can catalyze effectively this reaction at temperatures as low as 170°C.
The new integrated power supply will be a landmark in the development of a fuel cell power supply for mass consumption.
Additionally, it is considered the development and study of a composite palladium membrane for incorporating in the reformer and of an ionic liquid supported polymer membrane selective for CO2 removal from reformate streams operating up to 200°C and the characterization of developed catalysts towards the low temperature steam reforming of dimethyl ether. These are fundamental developments needed for the foreseen new generation of combined power supplies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FCH-JU-2011-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
JTI-CP-FCH - Joint Technology Initiatives - Collaborative Project (FCH)
Coordinator
4099-002 PORTO
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.