A simulated auto-thermal membrane reformer process for a PEM fuel cell micro cogeneration unit

There are several methods of producing hydrogen-rich gas from fossil resources Such as natural gas or naphtha, for example, steam reforming, partial oxidation and auto-thermal reforming. In this paper, an integrated ATR membrane reactor system was simulated. The effect of operating parameters on the product distribution, fuel cell hydrogen utilization and the net electric efficiency of the overall system were discussed. The overall system was integrated with a 1-kW(c) PEM fuel cell. The ASPEN-HYSIS 3.2 software has been utilized for the simulations and calculations of the fuel processing reactions. Natural gas fuel has been used as feedstock and applied to the simulated flow-sheet model. It was desired to produce hydrogen-rich gas with a low CO formation using an autothermal membrane reformer. A very low CO content with higher content of hydrogen was provided by the membrane reformer, eliminating the use of the conventional preferential oxidation (PrOx) reactor. Different combinations of T(ATR), S/C, O(2)/C ratios and U(H2) have been parametrically studied. Fuel processing efficiency and net electrical efficiency of all selected operating conditions have been calculated as well. Results indicate that the system parameters are very critical for the appropriate operation of the residential cogeneration system with ATR membrane unit. (C) 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.