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Fuel cell technology attracts increasing attention nowadays, because it offers potential for lowering emissions owing to a potentially superior efficiency compared to conventional power generation. Fuel cells require hydrogen for their operation and consequently numerous technologies are under worldwide investigation for hydrogen storage aiming for distributed, mobile and portable applications.
The lack of hydrogen infrastructure on the short term along with the highly attractive energy density of iquid, fossil and regenerative fuels has created wide-spread research efforts in the field of distributed and on-board hydrogen generation from various fuels. This complex chemical process, generally named fuel rocessing, is the subject of this book.
Adopting a unique integrated engineering approach, this text covers all aspects of fuel processing, from the fundamentals to catalysts, reactors, chemical plant components and integrated system design, right up to complete fuel processor systems and cost and production issues.
Alongside providing an introduction to the subject, this reference also contains recent research developments, making it an invaluable handbook for chemical, power and process engineers, electrochemists, catalytic chemists, materials scientists and engineers in power technology.
List of contents
INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINEFUNDAMENTALSCommon Fossil FuelsBasic Definitions, Calculations and LegislationThe Different Types of Fuel Cells and their Requirements to the Fuel ProcessorTHE CHEMISTRY OF FUEL PROCESSINGSteam ReformingPartial OxidationOxidative Steam Reforming or Autothermal ReformingCatalytic Cracking of HydrocarbonsPre-Reforming of Higher HydrocarbonsHomogeneous Plasma Reforming of Higher HydrocarbonsAqueous Reforming of Bio FuelsProcessing of Alternative FuelsDesulphurizationCarbon Monoxide Clean-UpCatalytic CombustionCoke Formation of Metal SurfacesCATALYST TECHNOLOGY FOR DISTRIBUTED FUEL PROCESSING APPLICATIONSA Brief Introduction to Catalysts Technology and EvaluationReforming CatalystsCatalysts for Hydrogen Generation from Alternative FuelsDesulphurisation Catalysts / AdsorbentsCarbon Monoxide Clean-Up CatalystsCombustions CatalystsFUEL PROCESSOR DESIGN CONCEPTSDesign of the Reforming ProcessDesign of the Carbon Monoxide Clean-Up DevicesAspects of Catalytic CombustionDesign of the Overall Fuel ProcessorComparison to Conventional Energy Supply SystemsTYPES OF FUEL PROCESSING REACTORSFixed Bed ReactorsMonolithic ReactorsPlate Heat-Exchanger ReactorsAPPLICATION OF FUEL PROCESSING REACTORSReforming ReactorsWater-Gas Shift ReactorsCatalytic Carbon Monoxide Fine Clean-UpMembrane Separation DevicesCatalytic BurnersBALANCE-OF-PLANT COMPONENTSHeat-ExchangersLiquid PumpsBlowers and CompressorsFeed Injection SystemsInsulation MaterialsCOMPLET FUEL PROCESSOR SYSTEMSMethanol Fuel ProcessorsEthanol Fuel ProcessorsNatural Gas Fuel ProcessorsFuel Processors for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)Gasoline Fuel ProcessorsDiesel and Kerosine Fuel ProcessorsMulti Fuel ProcessorsFuel Processors Based upon Alternative FuelsINTRODUCTION OF FUEL PROCESSORS INTO THE MARKET PLACE - COST AND PRODUCTION ISSUESFactors Affecting the Costs of Fuel ProcessorsProduction Techniques for Fuel Processors
About the author
Gunther Kolb, born 1963, was appointed Leader for Heterogeneous Catalysis and Process Engineering Group at the IMM in 2001. The group's activities are focused on fuel processing for fuel cells. He studied chemical engineering and obtained his Ph.D. in reaction engineering at the University of Erlangen in 1993, after which he joined the Federal Export Office in Eschborn to work on the implementation of the Chemical Weapon Convention. In 1995, he joined GRACE Davison Europe in Worms working as professional in the Catalyst Evaluation and Catalyst Development departments. He is the author of more than 20 publications in the fields of zeolite catalysis, supercritical fluids and fuel processing in microstructured devices.
Summary
Adopting a unique integrated engineering approach, this text covers all aspects of fuel processing: catalysts, reactors, chemical plant components and integrated system design. While providing an introduction to the subject, it also contains recent research developments, making this an invaluable handbook for chemical, power and process engineers, electrochemists, catalytic chemists, materials scientists and engineers in power technology.
