Fuel processing in catalytically coated microreactors for low-power fuel cell applications

A number of state-of-the-art low power fuel cell systems for portable applications and for stand-alone auxiliary power units exist. The commercialisation of the portable power systems based on direct methanol fuel cells is foreseen by the various companies to be on average within 2005 even though what is predominantly available to-date are prototypes. Based on some recent press releases not all technical problems seem to have been resolved thus leading in some cases to a further delay in market releases. As the demand for even higher power output grows, the typical power density of direct methanol fuel cells may well prove to be insufficient. Thus, processing of various fuels such as methanol and propane to clean hydrogen continues to play a role in low power fuel cell applications (< 200 W). The work carried out at IMM within this field is summarised here.