Open Competition 2 - Chemistry and Materials

Small-scale Hydrogen Generation via Aqueous-Phase Carbohydrate Reforming

Sponsor: Virent Energy Systems, Inc. (formerly LLC)

• Project Performance Period: 7/1/2003 - 3/31/2006
• Total project (est.): $2,553,278.00
• Requested ATP funds: $1,972,703.00

Today's laptop computers can operate for only a couple of hours without battery recharging. The U.S. portable consumer electronics industry needs to develop longer-lasting power sources to maintain its competitive edge, not only because it lags overseas competitors in the development of advanced batteries, but also because batteries of any kind may not be adequate to power future electronics. A promising alternative is fuel cells, which convert fuels such as hydrogen or methanol into electrical power. However, these fuels are problematic in that each is highly flammable, hydrogen cannot be easily stored, and methanol is toxic. Virent Energy Systems LLC (Madison, WI) plans a two-year project to develop and demonstrate catalyst and reactor technologies that use non-flammable feedstock to produce hydrogen for fuel cells. The resulting compact device will provide five times the energy density (or runtime) of today's advanced batteries. The project will build on the University of Wisconsin's discovery of liquid-phase fuel reforming, which generates high yields of hydrogen from energy-rich ethylene glycol. The process is more efficient than conventional hydrogen production methods and works at relatively low temperatures and pressures to generate less carbon monoxide, thus eliminating the problem of catalyst poisoning. An outstanding project challenge, a required 10-fold increase in power density of liquid-phase reforming, will be achieved in part through the development of more active catalyst materials and structures. A unique micro-channel reactor configuration will help to achieve the highest possible rate of hydrogen production in the smallest reactor volume. The company will develop a catalyst with the required activity, selectivity, and longevity. It also will design and demonstrate a micro-channel reactor that, with the incorporation of the improved catalyst, can power a 50-watt fuel cell - a requirement for future electronic devices. ATP funding is needed because this startup company was unable to secure private support and because accelerated development is crucial to establish a competitive U.S. position. If successful, the project will increase the quality of consumer electronics by extending the runtime of laptop computers to a full workday, at the same time creating a new portable power industry based in the United States. The technology also could be used in transportation applications, such as vehicles and aircraft, where the non-flammable feedstock would be a significant advantage. The fuel cell design could be extended to generate hydrogen from other oxygenated compounds such as glycerol and sugars. The use of such renewable feedstocks would provide environmental and energy security benefits.

For project information:

Tony Hartmann, (608) 663-0228
tony.hartmann@virent.com

ATP Project Manager

Richard Bartholomew, (301) 975-4786
richard.bartholomew@nist.gov