Hydrogen production by natural gas fuel processing for residential PEMFC cogeneration systems

Hydrogen can be effectively produced for PEMFC applications by the steam reforming of natural gas, the WGS reaction followed by the CO removal reactions. For the reforming catalysts, high thermal conductivity is critical as well as high catalytic activity in order to achieve enhanced CH4 conversions. Development of a highly active WGS catalyst at low temperature can contribute to the overall fuel processor efficiency by reducing the size and maximizing CO conversion. The CO remained after the WGS reaction can be effectively removed further by applying a dual bed configuration of PROX and subsequent methanation reaction system at a wide operation temperature range Here we present characteristic and performance of the catalysts used in the fuel processor, and discuss the implications of activity of the catalysts on the efficiency and dynamics of the fuel processor during load follow up for the PEMFC systems.