| Autothermal reforming of liquid fuels had been demonstrated to be feasible for use in fuel cell vehicles. One of the main problems with reforming systems is that the concentration product of carbon monoxide has to be less that 24ppm to avoid the contamination of the PEM Fuel Cell. The University of Puerto Rico in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) is developing and implementing a Reforming Catalyst Characterization Program to help in the development of a better performance of the fuel processor. The specific objectives of this study were to establish the feasibility of using a Pt-based catalyst to: (1) convert methanol and isooctane to a hydrogen-rich product gas; (2) study the effects of O2/fuel and H2O/C ratios, and reactor temperature that maximize the selectivity to 112; (3) compare experimental gas product concentrations with simulation equilibrium results. A bench-scale basket stirred tank reactor (BSTR) was used to perform the reforming experiments; and a gas chromatograph with a thermal conductivity detector was used to perform the exit gas analyses. The best condition (O2/fuel = 0.39 and H2O/C = 0.76, 900°F) of the reforming process in the range studied was observed when a higher H 2 (59.8%) and minimal CO2 (14.6%) and CO (12.6%) concentrations were obtained. At an O2/fuel = 0.5 and H2O/C = 1.12 (dry basis) ratios and 900°F, the maximum H2 concentration found was nearly 60%, which is the maximum theoretically concentration that can be reached at equilibrium. No methane or coke formation was observed. The Pt-catalyst used promoted methanol decomposition rather than reforming because the H2/(CO + CO2) ratios calculated at each level and temperature were frequently between 1 and 2 (decomposition ratio). |
