Cold start response of a small methanol reformer by partial oxidation reforming of hydrogen for fuel cell

This paper experimentally investigated the cold start response of a small methanol reformer. The parameters studied were heating power, methanol supply rate, air supply rate and heat transfer loss. The aim was to vary the operating parameters for promoting rapid response of the reformer such that hydrogen was quickly produced. From the experiments, it was revealed that the most economical use of methanol from cold start was a methanol supply rate of 25.5 cm3/min under the combined setting of a heating power of 240 W, a heating temperature of 100 °C and an air supply rate of 70 L/min. Under this setting, hydrogen was produced when the temperature of the catalyst outlet was approximately 100 °C and hydrogen concentration reached 37.5%, equalling the stable value, at about 290 °C, approximately 3 min from cold start.