Demonstration of Natural Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Light Paraffin Fuel in an Integrated Fuel Processing System

Key to broad commercialization of fuel cells is development of fuels that are not only fuel cell reformer compatible, but are also power technology neutral and able to use the existing fuel distribution system with minimal investment. These fuels must permit the transition from present power technologies to ultra-clean power technologies approaching commercialization, including both fuel cell and advanced internal combustion engines.

Tests of cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) light synthetic paraffin in an integrated fuel cell power system demonstrate the feasibility of a natural gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel for fuel cell applications. This paper discusses both experimental data that verifies the suitability of such fuels for fuel cell applications, and the broader ability of these fuels to support a commercial transition to clean power technologies.