Micro JP8 Fuel Reformer

"This SBIR Phase I project will prove the feasibility of manufacturing a micro JP8 fuel reformer to produce high-quality hydrogen gas of 150 cfm at 5000 PSI. The system will fit on a _ ton light duty truck and will be self-contained, requiring only JP8 fueland ambient air to operate. It will use no consumables and produce no waste streams other than diesel engine exhaust fumes. The system will be capable of producing over 15 scfm of hydrogen, allowing the filling of four standard hydrogen gas cylinders perhour. Fuel consumption for continuous operation is estimated at 9 gal/hour. A novel plasmatron will be used to directly convert liquid JP8 into 90 vol.% hydrogen-rich gas. Excellent thermal management and control of this cup-sized reformer is accomplishedby the fuel, which serves as an electrode coolant while being preheated for conversion. Additionally it continuously flushes the plasmatron of carbon conversion residues. The system will use a metal-hydride gas purifier/compressor for the hydrogen. Allnon-hydrogen conversion products will be combusted in the diesel generator engine to eliminate waste streams and increase energy efficiency. The sulfur contained in the JP8 will be separated and combusted in the generator engine. The proposed system is aportable reformer that will make hydrogen generation in the field possible from logistical fuels, such as JP8, diesel, etc. The hydrogen is of high grade, suitable to power fuel cells. N