Assessing the adaptability to varying fuel supply of an autothermal reformer

The present paper describes the study of an autothermal reformer and its fuel-flexible capabilities. Experiments have been performed in a reactor designed to generate hydrogen by autothermal reforming for a 1–5 kWe polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Both logistic fuels (diesel, gasoline, and E85) and alternative fuel candidates (methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether) were tested in the reformer. The same catalyst composition, Rh supported on Ce/La-doped γ-Al2O3 and deposited on cordierite monoliths, was used for all fuels. The practical feasibility of reforming each fuel in the present reactor design was tested and evaluated in terms of fuel conversion and selectivity to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Temperature profiles were studied both in the axial and radial direction of the reformer. It was concluded from the experiments that the reformer design was most suitable for use with hydrocarbon mixtures such as diesel, gasoline, and E85, where it represents a good basis for an optimized multifuel-reformer design.