Jeffrey M. Bentley

Hydrogen storage by carbon sorption

This research determined experimentally the extent to which carbon sorbents such as activated carbon, carbon black, carbon aerogels, and carbon molecular sieves can augment the capacity of compressed hydrogen gas (CHG) storage systems. These carbon sorbents were tested at ambient temperature (300 K), at acetone-and-dry-ice temperature (190 K), and at liquid-nitrogen temperature (80 K). We concluded that, at the pressures typical of vehicular CHG storage systems (200 bar), only one of the ten carbon sorbents tested could augment the capacity of CHG storage vessels. This improvement was marginal at 190 K and 300 K, and non-existent at 80 K.

Development of a catalytic partial oxidation ethanol reformer for fuel cell applications

Arthur D. Little in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs are developing an ethanol fuel processor for fuel cell vehicles. Initial studies were carried out on a 25 kWe catalytic partial oxidation (POX) reformer to determine the effect of equivalence ratio, steam to carbon ratio, and residence time on ethanol conversion. Results of the POX experiments show near equilibrium yields of hydrogen and carbon monoxide for an equivalence ratio of 3.0 with a fuel processor efficiency of 80%. The size and weight of the prototype reformer yield power densities of 1.44 l/kW and 1.74 kg/kW at an estimated cost of

THE HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE: NEAR-TERM TECHNOLOGIES AND IMPLICATIONS

20/kW.

Method and apparatus for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide

Stationary hydrogen storage will be an important element of hydrogen dispensing stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles. It can also be used as a buffer to accommodate the intermittent nature of renewable energy resources, to facilitate bulk hydrogen transport. Energy efficiency is an important parameter, and neither gravimetric nor volumetric density is as relevant for stationary hydrogen storage as it is for storage on board vehicles. A stationary storage concept using a high temperature metal hydride and a phase change material to provide extremely high energy efficiency is now being developed at Arthur D. Little.