The Development and Evaluation of Compact, Fast Response Integrated Methanol Reforming Fuel Processor Systems for PEMFC Electric Vehicles

As part of the JOULE programme, the European Commission has supported two projects for the development of an on-board methanol reformer and gas clean-up systems for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) electric vehicle. The first, called MERCATOX, was for the development of an integrated methanol reformer and carbon monoxide selective oxidation system. The design of this integrated unit uses reforming, combustion and selective oxidation catalysts coated onto aluminium substrates. The second project, called COCLUP/HYSEP, was for the development and evaluation of a metal membrane unit for hydrogen separation from reformate produced by an on-board methanol reformer.