Short Summary
Low Cost
Microchannel Reformer for Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas
Darby Makel
99-14
EISG Project Title: Low Cost
Microchannel Reformer for Hydrogen Production From Natural Gas
EISG Grant Number: 99-14
PIER Area: Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
Principal Investigator: Darby Makel
Contact Information: (530) 895-2771 dmakel@makelengineering.com
Organization: Makel Engineering, Inc.
Grant Amount: $75,000
Grant Term: 12 Months
Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of fabricating prototype microchannel reformers for converting natural gas to hydrogen for use in fuel cells. Innovative fabrication strategies will be investigated and tested.
Proposed Outcomes:
· Two prototypes reformers that employ different fabrication strategies.
· Performance results from prototype tests.
· Methodology for fabricating small, low cost, scaleable, natural gas reformers.
Anticipated Benefits:
· Enable the mass production of low cost natural gas reformers thus significantly reducing the manufacturing cost of integrated fuel cells.
· Enabling technology that would allow small residential and commercial fuel cells to operate from the abundant and inexpensive natural gas supplies in California.