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Fuel cell powered vehicles offer the potential of ultra-low or zero emissions along with very high efficiency. The major practical barrier to wide-spread introduction has been the need to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell. On-board hydrogen storage is not practical at the current time, leading to a large research and engineering effort in developing fuel processors that convert a hydrocarbon fuel such as gasoline, methanol or methane into a hydrogen-rich reformate. A key component of these systems, all of which have multiple catalytic reactors, is the processor response to transient operation that is inherent to vehicle use. This paper reports on a research reactor system designed to measure the transient response of fuel processors, and reports preliminary measurements of transient response for the primary reformer reactor of a gasoline fuel processor.

The performance of the fast lightoff, ultra-short metal monolith (SMM) catalyst technology was evaluated in a laboratory rig capable of simulating automotive exhaust streams. Tests focused primarily on determining the lightoff behavior of the fresh and engine aged catalyst over a wide range of air to fuel ratios (A/F). Experimental results are compared with estimates of mass transfer controlled operation for the geometry of the catalyst substrate. The effects of different space velocities, cycling between rich and lean gas streams, and addition of SO2 are also investigated. Additionally, the effect of thermal aging on the catalyst/substrate interface is discussed.