SwRI: Fuel Cell System Fuel Processor Testing and Development

  image of how, using infrared spectroscopy, SwRI engineers evaluate fuel processor performance and system design
 

Using infrared spectroscopy, SwRI engineers evaluate fuel processor performance and system design.

The key to many effective fuel cell systems is the fuel processor. Designed to provide the fuel cell with hydrogen for electrical energy production, the processor converts hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen, producing some waste components.


Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) addresses a wide range of fuel processor components, including:

  • Fuel vaporizers

  • Reformers

  • Desulfurizers

  • Water-gas shift reactors

  • Preferential oxidation catalysts

  • System heat exchangers

  • Hydrogen purification membranes

SwRI Fuel Research Experience

SwRI, with more than 50 years of experience in fuel research and testing, provides extensive support in resolving fuel cell problems, such as:

  • Reformate constituency, including H2, CO, CO2, aldehydes, and sulfur species

  • Fuel purity, including CO2 and sulfur contamination

  • Coking

  • Catalyst poisoning

  • Efficiency evaluation

  • Fuel processor start-up performance

For more information about fuel processor testing and development capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Joe Redfield at jredfield@swri.org or (210) 522-3729.


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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.