Due the lack of hydrogen infrastructure, which is necessary for the operation of PEM fuel cell, it must be in power supply applications in medium term generated locally on site. One promising possibility is the use of hydrocarbons as an energy source, such as the already existing in large scale natural gas infrastructure.
That by reforming produced hydrogen-rich gas mixture may also contain contaminating and trace gases that affect the performance of the fuel cell or even lead to permanent damage of the fuel.
As part of the research project IGF-16199N the formation of the PEM fuel cell poisoning component ammonia (NH3) by steam reforming of nitrogen-containing natural gases was systematically investigated.
Dependencies with respect to the nitrogen content of the gas, the catalysts used and the space velocity were determined. In addition, the catalysts of reformer, CO-shift and CO-purification were subjected to ammonia tolerance tests.
Investigations for ammonia removal by solution in water for various process variants were tested and evaluated on your NH3-cleaning ability.
Finally based on the findings an optimized modular NH3-purification stagewas developed and evaluated.
Project contents:
- Development of basic knowledge on formation of ammonia by steam reforming of nitrogen-containing natural gases
- Experimental studies on ammonia formation and tolerance at catalysts of a steam reformer system
- Procedures for the investigation of NH3 removal by solution in water
- Development and construction of an upgradeable modular NH3 cleaning stage
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