HIGH-TEMPERATURE MICROCOMBUSTION-BASED AMMONIAMICROCHEMICAL HYDROGEN GENERATOR REACTORSFOR PEM FUEL CELLS

摘要

A high-density source of hydrogen for pproton e roton exchangemxchangemembrane (PEM) fuel cells is being actively pursued in order tocreate a MEMS-based membrane micro-p icro-power-g ower-generator (MPG). Theapproach presented is to generate hydrogen and power bydecomposing ammonia (NH3) in a high-temperaturemicrochemical system. Three critical components of this MPGhave been fabricated and tested: (I) a high-temperaturemicrocombustor and (ii) a decomposition microreactor, and (iii) aPEM fuel cell. The critical breakthroughs to achieve this MPGhydrogen generator are a sub-millimeter critical length scalemicrocombustor and a high surface area microchemical reactor.