GENESIS FUELTECH COMPLETES 10,000 HOUR FUEL PROCESSOR TEST
Genesis Fueltech reports on long-term testing of the company’s methanol to pure (99.9999 per cent) hydrogen fuel processor.
This processor (or reformer) has now operated for ten thousand hours with greater than 99 per cent availability. The only problems encountered throughout the test were a clogged fuel line and one thermocouple that had to be replaced. Much of the testing was conducted supplying hydrogen to a 500 watt PEM fuel cell with power delivered through an inverter to an AC load bank.
The reformer uses a higher temperature methanol catalyst developed by Genesis. The catalyst facilitates both the fuel conversion and shift reactions. The catalyst has shown no performance deterioration over the life of the test.
This earlier generation fuel processor achieved net peak efficiency of 79 per cent and thermal efficiency of 83 per cent. Testing also demonstrated the reformer’s ability to respond quickly to varying fuel demands from a fuel cell, for example, from zero to 80 per cent load in less than three seconds.
The newest fuel processor developed by Genesis is the Model 20L. This processor has an effective operating range of zero to twenty liters of hydrogen per minute. The reformer automatically load tracks, that is, it is completely responsive to the hydrogen needs of a fuel cell system. It achieves a net operating efficiency in excess of 80 per cent. The Model 20L is designed for rack mounting with dimensions of 19 inches by 8.5 inches by 17 inches. It weighs 23kg and has a parasitic power at full load is 36 watts.
Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, Genesis Fueltech is a world leader in compact, high efficiency alcohol to pure hydrogen processors for the fuel cell industry. For more information contact Phillip Piffer, CEO of Genesis Fueltech, Inc. at +1 509-534-5787.
Fuel Cell Today, 2005